• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Women's Reservation Law: The 30-year-long wait of women for the 33 per cent reservation in the Parliament and state legislatures will continue as the government failed in its fresh attempt to implement the historic law, which could have changed the political landscape in terms of sharing wider space to the half-population in the power corridor. On Friday, the Lok Sabha failed to stand for women after the Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the Lower House. The Women's Reservation Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996 by the HD Deve Gowda-led United Front government.

How Constitution Amendment Bill-Linked To Women's Reservation Failed

The Constitution amendment bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats could not get the support from the Opposition. While 298 members voted in support of the bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority. The bill proposed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Quiz

In what year was the Women's Reservation Bill first introduced in the Lok Sabha?

ALSO READ: 'Historic Opportunity Missed' Vs 'Conspiracy Defeated': War Of Words Erupts After Constitution Amendment Bill Fails To Pass

What Went Wrong?

Several factors went against the initiative to implement the women's reservation, but the number game was key as the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lacks two-thirds numbers to get a constitution amendment bill passed in the House. The Opposition did not support the bill in the Lower House.

Here Are Some Key Factors That Emerged As Roadblock:

Ill-Timing: The three bills - The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 - were brought when heated poll campaigns are underway in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections. The Opposition linked the government's efforts to the move to woo women voters in the polls.

ALSO READ: Constitution Amendment Bill To Tweak Women Quota Law Defeated In Lok Sabha; Delimitation Bill Withdrawn

Delimitation: The Opposition said if the government wants to pass the bill without the controversial delimitation, it is ready to extend support. The delimitation diverted focus from the women's quota to alleged injustice with the southern and eastern states. However, Home Minister Amit Shah attempted to clarify that no state will lose seats, but it did not work.

 ALSO READ: 'Halt Proceeding For An Hour, Will Bring Amendment To Bill': Amit Shah Offers 50% Increase In LS Seats Across States If Oppn Agrees

'You Will Face Women's Wrath': Shah Slams Congress

Shah launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying it will have to "face the wrath of the nation's women" for not extending support to the Women's Reservation Bill. In his reply during the debate in the Parliament, Home Minister Shah said, "I want to tell the women of this country that in the absence of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the proposal made by the Congress is a trap to once again stall women's reservation before 2029."

Attack On Constitution Defeated: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Constitution amendment bill was an attack on the Constitution, which the opposition has defeated. The bill was not aimed at providing women's reservation, but an attempt to change India's electoral structure, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said. He also said that if the prime minister is serious in providing women reservation in Parliament, he should bring the 2023 law and the opposition would extend its support outrightly.

(With Agencies inputs)

You May Also Like To Watch


Also In News