In what is being seen as a major political push towards greater representation of women in electoral politics, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has announced that it will provide 33 per cent reservation for women within the party during the 2029 Assembly elections.
The announcement was made by TDP working president Nara Lokesh on the opening day of ‘Mahanadu 2026’, the party’s annual plenary session, which this year was organised around the theme “Stree Shakti”, highlighting women’s empowerment and leadership.
The proposal is being viewed as a significant political commitment aimed at promoting women-led leadership and gender equality, especially at a time when the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill at the national level continues to face delays and political hurdles. Presenting the proposal before party leaders and cadres, Lokesh said many political parties speak about empowering women during elections but fail to follow through after coming to power.
“Several parties talk about women empowerment only during election campaigns and later forget their promises. But from the very beginning, the TDP has believed in the strength and capabilities of women. We have always supported their aspirations, dreams and progress. We stood by them and firmly believe women have a much bigger role to play in India’s political discourse,” Lokesh said.
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Calling for the party to take the lead on the issue, he announced from the Mahanadu stage that the TDP would reserve one-third of its seats for women candidates in the 2029 Assembly elections. “Therefore, I propose that we lead from the front. Today, from this sacred Mahanadu platform, I propose that in the 2029 elections, the TDP should allocate 33 per cent of seats to women, not merely as a slogan, but as a serious commitment to the future of India. We want more women legislators, more women leaders and more women policy makers. The future of TDP will move forward shoulder to shoulder with women. This is our determination, our responsibility and our promise,” he said.
Lokesh further said he strongly believed that the next phase of Indian politics would be shaped by women leaders and noted that the NDA government had already taken a historic step by introducing the Women’s Reservation Bill. “Our vision is very clear. Women should not remain only beneficiaries of welfare schemes; they must become decision makers and active participants in governance,” he added.
Referring to the debate surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, Lokesh criticised opposition parties for allegedly creating obstacles during the process of introducing the legislation. The announcement received strong support from party workers attending the plenary session, with many describing it as a transformative step that could encourage greater participation of women in politics and public life.
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