'Major Roadblock' for Women's Reservation: Constitutional Amendment Bill Defeated in Lok Sabha with Only 298 Votes

New Delhi: Following two consecutive days of debate in the Lok Sabha on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill—officially the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill— was defeated during a vote on Friday evening. In other words, this Constitutional Amendment Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. A total of 298 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in favor of the bill, while 230 voted against it. A total of 528 MPs participated in the voting process.

Based on the number of MPs present in the House, the bill required a two-thirds majority—specifically 352 votes—to pass; however, this threshold was not met. It is pertinent to note that the Lok Sabha requires a two-thirds majority to pass any Constitutional Amendment Bill. Regarding the votes cast in favor of the bill, the ruling coalition commanded the support of 293 MPs; while they managed to secure five votes beyond this core support, major opposition parties united to prevent the accumulation of the necessary two-thirds numerical strength required for the bill's passage.

A Major Setback for Women's Reservation?

Consequently, the Constitutional Amendment Bill—aimed at implementing a 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies starting from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections—failed to pass in the Lower House of Parliament on Friday. Along with this legislation, the government had also tabled the 'Delimitation Bill, 2026' and the 'Union-State Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026' for discussion and passage in the House; however, these bills could not be advanced either. Thus, the initiative for women's reservation has suffered a major setback.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that, following the failure of the Constitutional Amendment Bill to pass, the two associated bills—the 'Delimitation Bill, 2026' and the 'Union-State Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026'—can no longer be advanced.

Why Did Rahul Call for Implementation of Original Bill?

Following the defeat of the bill in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi remarked that this was not a genuine Women's Reservation Bill, but rather an attempt to alter the electoral framework. He asserted, "This was an assault on the Constitution... and that is why we have defeated it." Additionally, the Congress leader stated that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to implement women's reservation, he should implement the bill passed in 2023. The Congress party stands with him.