New Delhi: The proposed Constitutional amendment aimed at implementing women’s reservation failed to clear the Lok Sabha on Friday after the Centre could not secure the required two-thirds majority, bringing an abrupt halt to a high-stakes legislative push.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, saw 298 members voting in favour and 230 against. Despite securing a simple majority, the government fell short of the special majority mandated under Article 368, which requires two-thirds of members present and voting.
Following the setback, the Centre chose not to move two related legislations – the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories laws proposal – stating that both were intrinsically linked to the women’s reservation framework.
The debate, which stretched late into Thursday night and resumed on Friday, saw sharp exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition. The government strongly defended the Bill as a long-pending reform to enhance women’s political representation, according to media reports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged members to support the legislation, stating that it should be viewed as a matter of national interest rather than through a political lens. He also sought to address concerns raised by Opposition parties, assuring that no injustice would be done to southern states in any future increase in Lok Sabha seats.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also maintained that the representation of southern states would be protected or may even see a marginal increase if the number of Lok Sabha seats is expanded beyond the current 543.
However, the Opposition mounted a strong resistance, particularly over the linking of women’s reservation with a fresh delimitation exercise. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi argued that the Bill was being used as a cover to alter the country’s electoral map. He alleged that the move could undermine representation and bypass demands such as a caste census.
The Opposition bloc maintained that while it supports women’s reservation in principle, the current formulation raised serious concerns about its broader implications.
After the Bill failed to pass, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed regret over the outcome and accused the Opposition of not backing what the government described as a historic reform. He indicated that the government would continue its efforts to advance women’s representation.
The developments also triggered protests by BJP members within the Parliament complex, reflecting the political intensity surrounding the issue.
