‘Black day for them…felt shock for the first time’: Priyanka calls women’s quota Bill defeat in Lok Sabha a ‘victory for democracy’

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday described the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha as a “huge victory for democracy”, accusing the Centre of attempting to “alter the federal structure and weaken democracy”.

The sharp remarks come a day after the proposed legislation seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, setting off a political confrontation between the NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc and triggering competing narratives over intent and timing.

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Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, she said, “What happened yesterday was a huge victory for democracy. The government’s conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped. This was a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the country, and a victory for the unity of the opposition, and it was clearly visible on the faces of the ruling party leaders…”

Priyanka Gandhi alleges ‘conspiracy’ behind Bill

Continuing her attack, Gandhi questioned the intent behind the Bill and its framing, alleging it was being used as a political tool.

She said, “I think it’s a conspiracy that somehow they need to stay in power… So, to achieve this, they’re planning how to permanently stay in power using women… They thought that if it was passed, they’d win. If it’s not passed, they’ll become the saviours of women by branding other parties as anti-women… We know that becoming a saviour for women isn’t easy…”

Calling the development a setback for the government, she added, “It’s a Black Day for them (centre) because they’ve felt a shock for the first time, which they deserved. The problems of women today are growing exponentially. The struggle is growing. Women aren’t fools. They see everything. That PR and media hype won’t work anymore.”

‘Bring back 2023 law, we will support it’: Priyanka Gandhi

Sharpening her pitch, the Congress leader urged the government to reintroduce an earlier version of the legislation.

She said, “If you want to do something concrete, bring back the bill that was passed unanimously in 2023, supported by all parties. If you need to make a few small amendments to it so it can be implemented now, do it and implement it now. Give women their rights, right now. But don’t try to mislead them by twisting it around and attaching it to other things. Do it now. We’re all ready…”

Expanding her criticism, she added, “We are saying very clearly, and we will say this from every platform, we will say this in every state, not just the Congress party, but every party of the INDIA alliance will say it very clearly: bring that 2023 legislation which was passed, make whatever change you want to get it done by 2029, we will fully support it. Things have changed for this government. It’s very visible from their actions. Firstly, they are under a lot of international pressure. A lot of the actions they are taking, I don’t think, as my brother has said multiple times, any Indian Prime Minister would have accepted the terms of the deal that they have done with the US, unless there was massive pressure. The public continues to suffer with multiple problems; the price of gas, of fruit, vegetables, everything has gone up. The burden of this is on the shoulders of women… They can take their Mahila Morcha in front of whoever’s house they want. They can make as much tamasha as they want. This country has now awakened to the fact that they do not stand by its words. They cannot be trusted. And certainly, women cannot trust them…”

She added: “Our stand is very clear. The entire INDIA alliance has made its stand very clear, and this vote has made it even clearer that, in our understanding, this bill that was introduced and the three-day discussion was not about women’s reservation; it was solely about delimitation, and we have all expressed our views on this very clearly.”

BJP leaders counter, call remarks demoralising

From the ruling side, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said the Bill’s failure had discouraged women but expressed confidence in its eventual passage.

She said, “All the women have become demotivated. However, we must place our trust in the Prime Minister. This bill is bound to be passed—if not today, then sooner or later.”

BJP MP Rekha Sharma launched a sharp attack on the Congress, questioning its commitment to women’s empowerment.

She said, “Their intentions have always been bad. If Congress had good intentions, this bill would have been passed thirty years ago… They say they support women, but they only support the women in their family…”

Escalating her criticism, Sharma added, “I would say Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of himself for talking so big and yet being nothing; he is hollow inside. His speech yesterday also showed that he is brainless… He should first learn how to behave in Parliament…”

The exchange of accusations highlights the widening political divide after the Bill’s defeat, with both sides attempting to shape public perception ahead of future electoral contests.