New Delhi

The BJP-led government’s attempt to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill linked to the implementation of women’s reservation did not succeed in the Lok Sabha on Friday, as it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.

During the voting held after a detailed discussion on three proposed legislations, 298 members supported the bill while 230 opposed it. Announcing the result, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill could not be passed due to insufficient majority.

The government had introduced the bill as part of its broader plan to fast-track the implementation of women’s reservation, which it proposed to enforce from the 2029 general elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who responded to the extensive debate, criticised opposition parties for opposing the legislation and warned that they would face backlash from women voters in future elections.

Opposition leaders, however, objected strongly to linking women’s reservation with delimitation. They maintained that reservation should be implemented immediately within the current strength of the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi argued that the bill was not genuinely aimed at empowering women but was instead an effort to alter India’s electoral structure.

Nearly 130 members participated in the two-day discussion on the Constitution Amendment Bill, along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill. Following the failure of the key amendment bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government would not proceed with the other two bills, as all three were interconnected.

The special three-day sitting of Parliament had been convened to pass these legislations. After the bill’s defeat, Amit Shah accused parties like Congress, TMC, DMK, and Samajwadi Party of blocking a crucial reform under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which seeks to provide 33% reservation for women in legislatures. He described their stance as anti-women and against national interest.

In response, Rahul Gandhi said the opposition had successfully resisted what he termed an attack on the Constitution. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also asserted that the issue was about safeguarding democracy rather than opposing women’s reservation. Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and Shashi Tharoor, reiterated that they supported reservation but opposed its linkage with delimitation and census processes.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed similar concerns, clarifying that the opposition was not against women’s reservation but questioned the government’s approach to delimitation.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders such as Ravi Shankar Prasad, Tejasvi Surya, and Pralhad Joshi criticised the opposition, accusing them of denying women their rightful representation and missing a historic opportunity.

As per constitutional provisions, any amendment bill requires not only a simple majority but also the support of at least two-thirds of members present and voting.

The developments come amid ongoing assembly elections in several states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, with results from Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry scheduled to be announced on May 4.

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The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023, provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and has recently come into effect from April 16.