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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8:30 pm, a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to reorganise
Lok Sabha seats to expedite the implementation of women’s reservation on the basis of the Census 2011, failed to pass the Lok Sabha test. The government failed to manage the two-thirds majority required to pass the constitutional amendment. The bill was defeated by 298 votes in favour while 230 voted against it.
Oppn Made A Mistake: PM Modi
Earlier today, PM Modi in a cabinet meeting, slammed the Opposition for not supporting the women’s reservation and delimitation bills, saying that they have made a mistake and will face consequences. He will now address the nation at 8:30 pm tonight.
What To Expect In PM Modi's Address To Nation
The Prime Minister is expected to delve into the issue of the implementation of women's quota and the happenings in Parliament, where opposition parties voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.
Under the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased up to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Seats were also to be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
A two-thirds majority was required for the passage of the crucial bill, but the ruling BJP-led alliance could not muster the numbers.
During polling on the bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday night, 298 members voted in its support, while 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
Meant To Serve Political Interests: Oppn Accuses Govt
The Opposition accused the government of delaying implementation of women reservation by linking it with delimitation and using it to serve its political interests.
While the BJP termed the development a “black day” and accused the Congress and other opposition parties of betraying women, the Congress and its allies asserted that the quota law, passed in 2023, should be implemented immediately and accused the government of playing politics over it.
Opposition leaders accused the government of delaying implementation and using the issue for political gain in Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the opposition is not against women’s reservation, but has objected to its linkage with delimitation. “We are fully in support of women’s reservation and would have happily passed the Bill on Friday itself. Our objection was not to reservation, but to linking it with delimitation,” he said.
Tharoor said delimitation raises “fundamental questions” about the country’s future and cannot be rushed.
“This is a very important issue for India’s unity and democracy. It requires serious, wide-ranging discussion -- not something to be decided in a two-day session.
Alleging political motives, he added, “This was a political game, not about women. Women were being used to serve short-term political interests. If the government brings a new Bill in the Monsoon Session without linking it to delimitation, we will pass it.”
"There must be a serious discussion involving all parties and states, especially in light of future Census data and the framework for a new delimitation exercise.”
Congress MP KC Venugopal said there is no disagreement on women’s reservation and demanded its immediate implementation.
“Their agenda was to link delimitation with women’s reservation, which has failed. They wanted delimitation according to their convenience, like in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, by redrawing constituencies. That has failed.
“We demand that, without any delay, the 2023 women’s reservation law be implemented,” he said.
With inputs from PTI
