The Constitution Amendment Bill proposing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was defeated in Parliament, dealing a setback to the Union government. The bill failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority, with opposition parties voting against it.
The government had presented the legislation as a major step toward improving women’s representation in politics. However, the Opposition argued that the proposal was tied to a contentious delimitation exercise, which aimed to redraw constituencies and increase the number of parliamentary seats.
Opposition leaders maintained that they supported women’s reservation in principle but objected to linking it with delimitation. They expressed concerns that such a move could alter the balance of political power among states, particularly affecting southern states that have successfully controlled population growth.
The debate in the Lok Sabha saw sharp exchanges, with the ruling side accusing the Opposition of blocking a long-pending reform, while Opposition members countered that the government was attempting to push through structural electoral changes under the cover of women’s empowerment.
Following the defeat of the amendment bill, the government is unlikely to move forward with the delimitation proposal, as both measures were seen as interconnected.
The outcome marks a rare legislative setback for the government and underscores deep political divisions over electoral reforms. It also leaves unresolved the issue of women’s representation in legislatures, which remains significantly low.
While both sides reiterated their commitment to increasing women’s participation in politics, there is no immediate clarity on when or how a revised proposal might be introduced.
