Political battle over women’s reservation shifts beyond Parliament, with Opposition preparing coordinated outreach and direct communication with the Prime Minister to push its position.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh addresses Opposition leaders during a meeting convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at the Parliament complex in New Delhi on April 17, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Escalating the standoff over women’s reservation, parties in the INDIA bloc are set to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the immediate implementation of the earlier version of the women’s reservation legislation.
The move comes a day after the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, deepening the political divide between the Opposition and the ruling NDA.
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Sources cited by news agency ANI said the INDIA bloc parties will hold press conferences across the country to reiterate their support for women’s reservation, while accusing the Centre of attempting to alter the political map of the country by linking the provision to delimitation.
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At a meeting of Opposition leaders, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi thanked allies for their support, with leaders congratulating each other amid a show of unity following the parliamentary showdown.
Speaking to ANI ahead of the final day of the special sitting, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the government to bring back the earlier version of the Bill that had wider political backing.
“They (Centre) should bring the old women’s bill, the one which was passed by all parties, immediately on Monday. Hold Parliament on Monday, bring the bill and let’s see who is anti-woman. We will all vote and support you,” she told ANI.
The One Hundred and Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
However, the latest proposal tied its implementation to delimitation, a move that Opposition parties have opposed.
The BJP-led NDA government was unable to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Friday. In the voting that followed a day-long debate, 298 members supported the Bill while 230 opposed it, leading to its defeat.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla confirmed that the legislation did not pass as it fell short of the constitutional requirement.
The government had introduced three interlinked Bills, including the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later said the remaining proposals would not be pursued.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier accused Opposition parties of blocking a key reform aimed at granting reservation for women.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, maintained that they support women’s reservation but objected to linking it with delimitation, arguing that it could alter India’s electoral structure.
The developments come against the backdrop of ongoing election campaigns in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, adding a sharper political edge to the debate.
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