Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday issued a video appeal urging all political parties to support amendments to the existing law to enable the rollout of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies by the 2029 General Election.The appeal came even as the Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc is set to meet on April 12 to finalise its strategy on the issue, particularly in response to the government’s move to extend the Budget session of Parliament to introduce the amendments amid the ongoing Assembly election cycle.Addressing women, the PM said the government was engaging with all parties on the Bills proposed to be taken up during the extended Budget session from April 16 to 18, and urged them to press their respective parties to support the agenda.He recalled the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, noting that the landmark legislation was passed with broad consensus.“Now everyone wants that when the 2029 elections are held, our women must get 33 per cent space in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. For some days we have been talking to political parties. Many parties have supported our move. A positive atmosphere is visible. Women should appeal to all parties to pass the women’s reservation by 2029 agenda when their MPs attend the Budget session scheduled from April 16 to 18,” Modi said, as the ruling BJP seeks to build a broader campaign around the issue.Meanwhile, it is learnt that the INDIA bloc will attempt to counter the government’s plan to introduce two constitutional amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act and the Delimitation Commission Act during the three-day extension of the Budget session.The Congress has alleged that introducing such amendments during Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu violates the Model Code of Conduct. The opposition alliance is also considering approaching the Election Commission of India to raise objections.The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body, is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the upcoming Parliament session.The government’s push to pass amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act and the Delimitation Act comes at a time when Assembly elections are imminent in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. While polling in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23.