New Delhi, April 17, 2026 — In a significant legislative setback, the Modi government’s Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 — aimed at facilitating the implementation of 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies through delimitation and an increase in Lok Sabha seats — was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday. This marks the first time in 12 years that a constitutional amendment bill introduced by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has failed to pass in Parliament.
The bill, introduced on April 16 during a special Parliament session, sought to amend the Constitution to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 (plus 2 nominated members) to around 850 seats. It also proposed changes to enable fresh delimitation of constituencies, linking it to the women’s quota that was originally passed in 2023 but is yet to be implemented due to pending delimitation and census exercises. Related bills on delimitation and Union Territories laws were also part of the package but were not taken up for voting after the main amendment fell short.
# Voting Outcome and Shortfall
Voting in the Lok Sabha saw 298 MPs voting in favour and 230 against, with a total of around 528-489 members present and voting (figures vary slightly across reports). A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. The government needed approximately 352 votes but fell short by over 50 votes. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the bill’s defeat after the division.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later stated that the linked Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, would not be proceeded with, as they were intrinsically connected to the failed amendment.
# Background and Government’s Intent
The 2023 Women’s Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, with sub-quotas for SC/ST women. However, its implementation hinges on delimitation following a census. The 131st Amendment Bill sought to provide the constitutional framework for increasing parliamentary seats and conducting delimitation, potentially using a future census, to operationalize the quota without delaying it further.
The government, including Home Minister Amit Shah, defended the move as a step toward women’s empowerment, highlighting past efforts like women’s representation in Panchayats and the election of President Droupadi Murmu. NDA leaders argued that the opposition was obstructing a long-pending reform that even previous governments had failed to deliver.
# Opposition’s Stand and Tactical Victory
Opposition parties, led by the INDIA bloc including Congress, TMC, DMK, and others, strongly opposed the bill. They accused the government of attempting to “hijack the Constitution” by bundling women’s reservation with delimitation and seat expansion, which they claimed could disproportionately benefit northern states with higher population growth and alter federal balance. Leaders like Congress MP K.C. Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described it as an attack on democracy rather than a genuine push for women’s rights. Rahul Gandhi and others celebrated the defeat as a victory for constitutional principles.
Some reports suggested the opposition tactically lobbied even NDA allies or independent members, leading to the shortfall despite the ruling coalition’s numerical strength in the House.
# Political Reactions
NDA side: Women NDA MPs staged a protest in Parliament premises after the defeat. The government portrayed the opposition’s stance as inconsistent, noting that parties now opposing had earlier supported or delayed similar ideas.
Opposition: Congress and allies hailed it as a defeat of a “nefarious attempt” to link women’s quota with politically motivated delimitation. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remarked, “This was not about women’s reservation but democracy.”
This development comes amid ongoing debates on federalism, southern states’ concerns over potential loss of relative representation post-delimitation, and the timing ahead of future electoral cycles.
The Modi government, which has successfully passed numerous constitutional amendments since 2014 (including on Article 370, reservation for Economically Weaker Sections, and the 2023 women’s quota itself), now faces its first such reversal on the floor of the House. Analysts see it as a rare display of opposition unity prevailing on a key constitutional matter.
The bill’s failure means the 2023 women’s reservation law remains unimplemented for now, with delimitation and seat readjustment deferred. The government may explore options like reintroducing a revised version or building broader consensus in the future.
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