The Centre faced a major setback as the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, could not clear the Lok Sabha. The government needed a two-thirds majority to pass the bill, but it did not secure enough support.

A total of 298 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 230 opposed it. Because of this shortfall, the legislation failed to pass a crucial stage.

Following this, the government decided not to present two related bills for voting. These included proposals on delimitation and increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats. The Centre said these bills were “intrinsically linked” to the women’s reservation proposal.

Government strongly backs 33% reservation

The debate on the bill stretched late into the night on Thursday and continued on Friday. The government made a strong case for reserving 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the government’s argument. He tried to address concerns raised by opposition parties, especially about the possible impact on southern states if the number of seats increased.

"Let all of us not miss this important opportunity to give reservation to women. I have come to appeal to you - do not see this from a political lens, this is in national interest," PM Modi said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reassured the House. He said that the representation of southern states would either remain the same or increase slightly after the proposed expansion of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to around 816.

Both leaders accused opposition parties, including Congress, of creating unnecessary issues to block the bill. They warned that such opposition could have political consequences in future elections.

Opposition questions intent of the bill

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the government’s approach. He opposed linking the reservation bill with delimitation.

"This is not a women's bill as it has nothing to do with empowerment of women. This bill is an attempt to change the country's electoral map, using and hiding behind India's women," he alleged.

Rahul Gandhi also argued that the government was trying to avoid conducting a caste census.

"They are trying to avoid giving power and representation to my OBC brothers and sisters, and instead take power away from them," he said.

Strong reactions after bill’s failure

After the bill failed, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed disappointment. He said the opposition had missed an important opportunity.

"It is a matter of regret that the Opposition did not support such a historic and important bill meant to give respect and representation to the people of the country. You had an opportunity and you squandered it. The Modi government's efforts and struggle to give rights to women will continue," he said.

BJP MPs also staged protests within the Parliament complex.

Amit Shah criticised several opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Samajwadi Party. He called their reaction to the bill’s failure “reprehensible”.

"Now, the women of the country will not get the 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, which was their right. The Congress and its allies have done this not for the first time, but repeatedly. Their mindset is neither in the interest of women nor of the country," he posted on X.

"I want to tell them that this insult to Nari Shakti will not stop here; it will travel far and wide. The opposition will have to face the wrath of women not only in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, but at every level, in every election," he added.

Opposition calls it victory for democracy

Rahul Gandhi defended the opposition’s stand after the vote. He described the bill as harmful to the Constitution.

"As I said in the House, this bill was an attack on the Constitution, and we are glad that we have defeated it. This was not a Women's Reservation Bill, but an attempt to change the electoral map of India. I want to tell the Prime Minister that if the government wants to implement the bill on women's quota that was passed in 2023, the opposition will support it 100%," he asserted.

Soon after, he posted on X and called the government’s plan an “unconstitutional trick”.

"Bharat has seen it. INDIA has stopped it," he wrote.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also opposed linking reservation with delimitation.

"We can never agree to linking women's reservation with delimitation based on an old Census that does not include the Other Backward Classes. It was not possible for this bill to be passed, and I believe this is a big victory for our democracy and the unity of our country," she said.

Political coordination behind the scenes

Sources indicated that Rahul Gandhi spoke to Abhishek Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress and thanked him for his role in defeating the bill.

This interaction is notable because both Congress and Trinamool Congress are part of the INDIA alliance at the national level. However, they are political rivals in West Bengal, where assembly elections are scheduled for April 23 and 29.