A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated on Friday, April 17, 2026, in the Lower House. While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill was defeated for not securing the required two-thirds majority.
Subsequently, the Union government said it will not move ahead with two related Bills, saying that they cannot be viewed in isolation.
The Vote: How the Numbers Stacked Up
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Present and Voting | 528 |
| Ayes (In Favour) | 298 |
| Noes (Against) | 230 |
| Abstentions | 0 |
| Required Majority | Two-thirds (not secured) |
| Outcome | Bill defeated |
What Was in the Bill?
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, was part of a larger delimitation package that aimed to:
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Women’s Reservation | 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies (to be implemented in 2029) |
| Lok Sabha Expansion | Increase the number of Lok Sabha seats |
| Delimitation | Redraw constituency boundaries based on updated population data |
Government’s Response
Expressing disappointment over the defeat of the Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said this is a missed opportunity for consensus on an important reform.
The government said it would not proceed with two related Bills linked to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, stressing that they could not be viewed in isolation.
Home Minister Amit Shah’s Speech
Replying to the debate, Home Minister Amit Shah made several key points:
- On Southern Representation: “I want to make it clear that south representation will not come down post delimitation, I can guarantee that.”
- On Voter-to-MP Ratio: “In some States, a few lakhs of people are represented by one MP, and in others, a few thousands. This imbalance can be corrected through delimitation.”
- On Seat Increase: “We are increasing seats in each State by 50%, on pro rata basis. We will make sure none of the voters remain unrepresented.”
- On Women’s Reservation: “Only after the delimitation process is done, we shall bring in the women’s reservation law.”
Opposition’s Response
| Leader | Key Statement |
|---|---|
| Rahul Gandhi (Congress) | “This Bill has nothing to do with women’s reservation. It is an attempt to change India’s electoral map by taking away representation from southern, northeastern and smaller States. It is nothing short of an anti-national act.” |
| M.K. Stalin (DMK Chief/TN CM) | “Tamil Nadu defeats Delhi.” Posted a portrait of himself setting on fire a copy of the Delimitation Bill. |
| Jairam Ramesh (Congress) | “The nefarious attempt of the PM and HM to link their dangerous delimitation proposals to women’s reservation has been decisively defeated. This is a win for our democracy, our federalism, and the Constitution.” |
| Kanimozhi (DMK MP) | “This Bill, in disguise of women reservation, disrupts the federal structure of India. BJP is using women as electoral rescue strategy.” |
| A. Raja (DMK MP) | “In the name of women’s right, the govt is promoting discrimination among States. By discrimination you want to promote North-South divide.” |
| Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) | “We support women reservation but govt is shifting goal post. We reached Parliament without reservation.” |
Other Notable Speeches
- Kalyan Banerjee (TMC): “PM Modi changes rules of game when he thinks that he might lose election. Women reservation should not be based on convenience.”
- Shashi Tharoor (Congress): “The 50% increase of seats formula proposed by Amit Shah is precarious political statement, it is not promised by legislature. We will support the women reservation Bill but for the Delimitation Bill let us defer.”
- TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu: TDP supports both Bills, stating that Andhra Pradesh would not lose out.
- Nishikant Dubey (BJP): “If the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, is implemented as the government has notified, we are ready to implement it from tomorrow based on 543 seats.”
Other Parliamentary Developments
- Rajya Sabha: Nominated member Harivansh was elected Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha unopposed, marking a historic first for a nominated member.
- PM Modi’s Appeal: Ahead of the voting, PM Modi appealed to MPs to “not deprive Nari Shakti of new opportunities.”
What’s Next?
- Lok Sabha adjourned to meet again on April 18 at 11 a.m.
- The government has shelved two related Bills.
- Opposition has demanded that women’s reservation be implemented in the existing 543-seat structure.
