Disappointed By Contents Of Women’s Quota Bill, Poll Gimmicks Won’t Work: Congress MP Sennimalai

According to Jothimani Sennimalai, the Congress was "disappointed" with the draft of the Women's quota Bill as there was no timeframe to implement it.

Weighing in on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which was signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu after clearing legislative hurdles in both Houses of Parliament, Congress MP Jothimani Sennimalai said she was disappointed when the draft legislation was introduced as there was no timeframe to implement it across the country.

While supporting the Bill, which promises 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, the Congress hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the non-inclusion of an OBC sub-quota and the provision of a clause mandating the implementation of the law after a nationwide census and delimitation exercise.

Putting forth her views on the subject at a session titled ‘Women in Politics: A Different Kind of Leader’ at The ABP Southern Rising Summit in Chennai, the Congress leader said, “While we supported the Bill and the idea behind it, we were disappointed by the contents of the draft legislation that was introduced in the Lok Sabha. Election gimmicks won’t work.”

To a question whether not naming a consensus Prime Ministerial candidate for next year’s Lok Sabha polls will hurt the I.N.D.I.A bloc and give a clear edge to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Congress youth leader, who defeated four-time AIADMK MP M Thambidurai in the 2019 elections said, “It doesn’t matter whether you announce a PM candidate or not. The people are smart and are aware where and how this government has failed them and their expectations. One has to present a vision document to the people, which the (Opposition) alliance will do.”

On whether there was a Modi wave and how the Opposition bloc plans to fight it going into the next general elections, the Congress MP said, “There is no Modi wave on the ground. It’s all on WhatsApp. See how Manipur is burning and women are being treated across the country. No money is being allotted for the Rural Development Ministry. The Modi government is a disaster and people of the country know it for what it is. However, it will be a tough fight as they (BJP) have a huge election machinery and pump in crores to mobilise opinions and influence electoral mandates.”

“I travel a lot and frequent all the villages in my constituency (Karur). What came out during my interactions with the people is that they want jobs and a better educational ambience. There is a huge skill gap that needs to be addressed at the earliest.”

On the party’s prospects in the upcoming Assembly elections in five states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana, Sennimalai said, “We are winning the elections in all five states and will also emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections next year.”

Quizzed on the row over DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s rant against Sanatan Dharma, and if it risks turning the people away from the Opposition bloc, she said, “Elections have completely different dynamics, they are contested on issues on the ground.”

Accusing the ruling BJP at the Centre of spending “millions to defame Rahul Gandhi”, the Congress MP said, “However, within 10 days of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, we managed to break the myths (around Rahul Gandhi). Rahul Gandhi is the tallest leader in the country right now. You can’t deny it. His march helped to galvanise people around our party. We couldn’t manage the crowds and went along with them.”

On the BJP terming Congress’s promise of a nationwide caste census, if voted back at the Centre, as appeasement, Sennimalai said, “What is wrong in getting actual (caste) data? Regardless of communities, there are some brilliant minds. Only 15 per cent people are hogging the political space in the country. Such ideas and insinuations are floated by an influential section of our population, which wants to keep power to themselves.”

Playing down the buzz of her being the frontrunner for the position of the state party chief in Tamil Nadu, Congress Lok Sabha MP Jothimani Sennimalai on Thursday said they were merely media speculations.

On the leaders who inspired her to take up politics as a career, she said, “I was influenced greatly by Indira Gandhi. I also drew inspiration from how Sonia Gandhi took criticism and divergent views with patience. I also admired (former Tamil Nadu CM) Jayalalithaa. I might not agree with the AIADMK’s brand of politics but she was someone I idolised.”

On her message to fellow women aspiring after a career in politics, Sennimalai advised them to be brave and follow their hearts.