Women must get adequate representation in Parliament, legislatures: CM

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. File

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday (November 14, 2026) stressed the need for adequate representation of women in Parliament and State legislatures, expressing hope that the Women’s Reservation Bill would be implemented soon. Incidentally, Karnataka is yet to have a woman representative in its Cabinet.

“The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha and is yet to be approved by the Lok Sabha. I am hopeful that it will become a reality in the coming Parliament session. Women must get adequate representation in Parliament and State legislatures,” he said.

He was speaking after unveiling the logo of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) India Region conference, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on November 17 and 18.

Recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to women’s political empowerment, Mr. Shivakumar said it was his government that had brought in legislation providing 50% reservation for women in local bodies, from panchayats to district-level administration. He said he believed that all political parties supported women’s reservation.

Highlighting women’s presence in important constitutional and administrative positions in Karnataka, he said the Governor, Chief Secretary, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary, Legislative Council Secretary and Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council were all women.

“It is a matter of satisfaction that women are holding key positions in the State’s administration. Women are the eyes of a family. When women are empowered, men too become empowered,” he said.

Describing the CWP conference as a historic milestone for Karnataka, Mr. Shivakumar said the State government would extend all support to the first independent CWP India Region conference being held in Bengaluru.

The conference, being organised under the leadership of CWP India Region president D. Purandeswari, is expected to bring together more than 150 women parliamentarians, legislators and presiding officers from India and abroad.

The participants are expected to deliberate on the country’s development and protection of women’s rights, he said.

The government would extend all necessary assistance through Legislative Assembly Speaker G.S. Patil and Legislative Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed to ensure the successful conduct of the conference, he said.

Mr. Shivakumar also recalled the contributions of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Sucheta Kripalani, the country’s first woman Chief Minister, and President Droupadi Murmu.

Their achievements demonstrated that women could accomplish anything they set their minds to, he added.