A division vote in Lok Sabha saw 251 MPs back the introduction of a key Constitution amendment tied to women’s quota and delimitation amid intense political confrontation.
The Lok Sabha on Thursday approved the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, after a formal division of votes, with 251 members backing the move and 185 opposing it.
The development comes amid a politically charged special sitting of Parliament, where the government is pushing a set of key legislations linked to women’s reservation and delimitation, even as the Opposition has raised concerns over timing, process, and constitutional implications.
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Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal introduced the amendment Bill in the House, alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
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The introduction of the Bill was put to a vote after the Opposition demanded a recorded division instead of a voice vote. According to Speaker Om Birla, 251 MPs voted in favour and 185 against, with the figures subject to change.
The Lok Sabha usually relies on voice votes, but a division is conducted when members contest the outcome. During the process, the automatic vote recording system is used to register votes under different categories.
Later in the proceedings, voting through slips was also carried out, with 333 members casting their votes and no abstentions recorded in that round.
Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Singh briefed members on the process, saying, “The votes will not be registered if the votes are kept pressed before the first gong or if they aren’t pressed simultaneously till the second gong. Members can check their vote on the individual results board.”
“If any member wishes to change the vote, they may call for voting through slips,” he added.
The introduction of the Bills triggered a heated political confrontation in the House.
Congress MP KC Venugopal objected to the move, stating, “I object to the bill introduced by Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah. This bill is a fundamental attack on the Indian federal structure. What exactly is the intention of this bill? The parliament passed the bill in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ensuring 33 per cent reservation of women.”
Home Minister Amit Shah countered the criticism, saying that members could raise only technical objections at the stage of introduction and not debate the merits of the legislation.
He also said the government would give a “strong reply” during the full debate.
Samajwadi Party MPs opposed the proposals on constitutional grounds, with Dharmendra Yadav urging the government to withdraw the Bills and instead implement the law passed in 2023.
The debate also saw objections over demands for a separate quota for Muslim women, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju calling such suggestions “uncalled for”.
A separate flashpoint emerged when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the timing of the women’s reservation move.
“Why is the Centre rushing for women’s reservation? Start with the Census first,” he said, adding that his party supports reservation in principle but opposes linking it to delimitation.
He further alleged, “They are delaying the census because when it happens, we will ask for the caste-based census, and they don’t want it.”
Responding, Amit Shah said the Census exercise has already begun and assured the House that caste enumeration would follow.
“The Census process has already started across the country, and after that, we will also conduct a caste-based census. Currently, the House Listing is underway; homes don’t belong to a certain caste. If SP has its way, it will designate a caste to homes also. I want to assure the House that the Census is going to happen with the caste census as well,” Shah said.
He also reiterated that religion-based reservation is not permissible. “Based on religion, reservation of any kind for Muslims is unconstitutional,” he said.
The government has convened a three-day special sitting from April 16 to 18 to take forward the legislative process.
It is seeking support to operationalise women’s reservation from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, linking it to delimitation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier appealed to political parties to back the amendment. “This is the wish of every sister and daughter of this country, and we must fulfil it with unanimity,” he said at an event in Dehradun.
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