The BJP-led NDA is expected to face stiff resistance from opposition INDIA Bloc in the legislative test to amend the Women’s Reservation Bill—the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam—which requires a special majority under Article 368 of the Constitution. The amendment must be approved by at least two-thirds of members present and voting in both Houses, followed by ratification by at least half of the state legislatures. The latter is expected to be easier, given the BJP’s presence in a majority of states.
A day ahead of the special session of Parliament to fast-track the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam by linking it to a delimitation exercise based on the latest published census, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that all Opposition parties support women’s reservation but objected to the way the government was introducing it. He termed the delimitation move politically motivated and aimed at suppressing the Opposition, flagging concerns over delimitation and the pending census. “We are not against women’s reservation. We are against the delimitation Bill,” he said, adding that the Opposition will vote against the delimitation Bill.
The battle lines are drawn—in the Lok Sabha, with a full strength of 543, the government would need around 360 votes if all members are present and voting. The NDA currently has about 293 seats, well short of the mark, making Opposition backing essential. In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA’s strength rose to 141 after the March 2026 biennial elections—enough for a simple majority but still short of the two-thirds requirement.
The INDIA bloc, with around 233 Lok Sabha MPs, supports women’s reservation in principle but has raised objections to its linkage with delimitation. When the law was originally passed in September 2023, it saw overwhelming support—454-2 in the Lok Sabha and a unanimous 214-0 in the Rajya Sabha. However, the Opposition, too, faces a perception challenge. If it is seen as not supporting the women’s bill—even though it is opposing the method of implementation—it risks being labeled “anti-women” by the BJP, a charge that could prove electorally damaging.
Opposition leaders insist the core issue is delimitation, not reservation. After the INDIA bloc meeting, Kharge said all parties support women’s reservation but object to the way the government is introducing it. While backing the 33% quota, the Congress and regional parties say their main concern centre on delimitation States that have stabilised population growth may lose relative influence, while those with higher growth, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, could gain seats—potentially benefiting northern states, putting the southern and smaller states at a disadvantage.
Government sources maintain that redistribution will be broadly proportional and address all concerns. Rough estimates suggest all states could see around a 50% increase in seats—for instance, Uttar Pradesh may rise from 80 to about 120, Tamil Nadu from 39 to around 60, and Kerala from 20 to 30. Opposition leaders, however, argue disparities would widen. The current gap between Uttar Pradesh and Kerala—60 seats—could expand to 90, intensifying regional imbalance. They have accused the Centre of using the reservation amendment to push delimitation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, with regional strongmen like DMK’s M. K. Stalin dubbing it a “weapon” against the Opposition.
A draft bill circulated among Lok Sabha members reportedly says that the Lok Sabha “shall consist of not more than 815 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the states; and not more than 35 members to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.” As per the report, the figure of 850 represents only the upper ceiling, as the final number will be decided by the Delimitation Commission.