Congress calls for 25-year freeze on Lok Sabha strength, implements 33 per cent women’s quota from 2029

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday pressed a constitutional freeze on the current strength of the Lok Sabha for another 25 years while implementing the 33 per cent reservation for women from the 2029 elections, and decided to launch a nationwide campaign.

Key points

• The party additionally decided to adhere to its historic 1937 position of singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events.
• The party's stand came at a four-hour-long Congress Working Committee (CWC) session chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
• In its resolution, the CWC alleged that paper leaks had reached "epidemic proportions", claiming at least 152 instances since 2014, and accused the Centre of failing educated youth on employment.
• As for the education reforms, Kharge pressed a comprehensive and time-bound "Education-to-Employment Roadmap".
• The party will additionally hold nationwide protests on the alleged corruption involving the donation to Ram Temple.

For context, the party's stand came at a four-hour-long Congress Working Committee (CWC) session chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The session at Indira Bhawan was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, among others.

For context, the party additionally decided to adhere to its historic 1937 position of singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events. Briefing reporters after the session, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Ramesh stated that regarding delimitation, the Congress is in favour of keeping the current number of Lok Sabha seats-543-the same for the next 25 years. "At the same time, we demand the implementation of women's reservation on this very number, " Ramesh remarked.

Notably, the party will additionally hold nationwide protests on the alleged corruption involving the donation to Ram Temple. "Ram Mandir chanda chori is not only the issue of Ram Mandir now, but it has also become an issue of the sentiments of the people, " party leader KC Venugopal remarked.

As for the education reforms, Kharge pressed a comprehensive and time-bound "Education-to-Employment Roadmap". The CWC asked Congress chief ministers to prepare state-specific reports within one month on the reforms required in the education sector.

In its resolution, the CWC alleged that paper leaks had reached "epidemic proportions", claiming at least 152 instances since 2014, and accused the Centre of failing educated youth on employment. It additionally condemned the police action against students protesting NEET-UG leak and calling for the Union education ministers' resignation.

Reservations were additionally raised regarding the rollout of E20 petrol, including questions over fuel contamination and the environmental impact of diverting sugarcane and maize for ethanol production.

In short, congress calls for 25-year freeze on Lok Sabha strength, implements 33 per is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.