In the ongoing special parliamentary session, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026—for one-third women's reservation tied to delimitation—failed in Lok Sabha on Friday with 298 votes in favour and 230 against, missing the required two-thirds majority of 352 out of 528. This follows the bills' contentious introduction the previous day. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi branded it a 'shameful law,' drawing a sharp rebuke from Home Minister Amit Shah, as BJP vowed nationwide protests.
Building on Thursday's heated introduction of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026—aimed at implementing the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam via post-delimitation quotas—Lok Sabha voted on the key women's reservation amendment Friday. Of 528 votes, 298 favoured passage and 230 opposed, falling 54 short of the two-thirds threshold (352).
During debate, Rahul Gandhi attacked: 'This women's reservation bill will not empower women. It is just to change constituency maps. It is cruel to OBC and Dalit communities. The Centre wants to snatch rights from OBC brothers and sisters,' calling it a 'shameful law.'
Amit Shah retorted: 'It is your responsibility to maintain the dignity of this House. The language you used—you are a coward, surrendering, afraid of me—harms that dignity. Learn the art of speaking from Priyanka Gandhi or your seniors.'
Post-defeat, Gandhi tweeted: 'India has seen it, INDIA has stopped it.' BJP women MPs protested at Makar Dwar, while in Lucknow, UP Women's Commission Vice-Chair Aparna Yadav burnt SP and Congress flags. The BJP announced protests nationwide from April 18.
