Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, April 17
India’s lower house of parliament rejected a constitutional amendment bill to introduce 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures and expand the size of the Lok Sabha, dealing a setback to the government’s legislative agenda.
A total of 298 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill and 230 against, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for passage, parliamentary officials said.
The proposed amendment sought to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 from 543 and extend similar changes to state and union territory assemblies to accommodate women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with senior ministers including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, was present during the voting, as was opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
Following the defeat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government would continue efforts to secure women’s representation in legislatures.
“We will not rest until women get reservation,” he told reporters, criticising opposition parties for blocking the measure.
Home Minister Shah accused opposition groups, including the Congress, of preventing the bill’s passage, while also defending the proposed delimitation exercise linked to the legislation.
Opposition leaders, however, said the bill was tied to broader electoral changes. Gandhi described it as an attempt to alter the country’s electoral framework rather than a genuine measure for women’s empowerment.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the house after the vote. The government also decided not to proceed with related legislation on delimitation and amendments to union territory laws, officials said.
The bill was taken up during a three-day special session of parliament convened from April 16 to 18.
Earlier, PM Modi urged lawmakers to support a constitutional amendment bill proposing 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures, saying it was time to ensure greater representation for half of the country’s population.
In an appeal ahead of voting in the lower house of parliament, he called on members across party lines to back the legislation and avoid actions that could “hurt the sentiments” of women.
“Crores of women are watching our intent and our decisions,” the PM said, urging lawmakers to support the proposed amendment.
The bill seeks to introduce reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, alongside a delimitation exercise that would increase the strength of the lower house to 816 seats.
PM Modi said the legislation offered an opportunity to address long-standing gaps in women’s representation in decision-making.
“For nearly four decades, this issue has been delayed. Now is the time to ensure that half of the nation’s population receives its rightful due,” he said.
The PM said that the government had addressed concerns surrounding the proposal and appealed for a “sensitive decision” from all political parties.
“If passed unanimously, it will further empower women and strengthen democracy,” he said.
The appeal came shortly before voting was scheduled in the Lok Sabha on the amendment and related legislation.
