Women’s Vote Isn’t Enough: India Pushes for Decision‑Making Authority

At the Samarkand IPU summit, Chadha warned that merely asking women to vote does not achieve gender parity in politics. He called for a system where women are not only voters but also decision‑makers with statutory authority. Citing statistics that show a historic surge in female voter participation and the presence of over 1.45 million women elected at the local level, Chadha argued these figures demonstrate that India is ready for deeper integration of women into governance. He highlighted constitutional reforms that aim for a one‑third quota for women in legislative chambers, insisting that such reforms must translate into real power to shape legislation and policy.