Defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, aimed at implementing reservation for women in legislatures by 2029, was defeated in the Lok Sabha. Despite efforts by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and opposition leaders to reach a compromise, the Bill did not secure the required two-thirds majority.
- Out of 528 Lok Sabha members, 298 supported the Bill while 230 opposed it. The government needed 352 votes for passage.
- This marked the first defeat of a government Bill in Parliament since 2014 under the Narendra Modi-led government.
Related Bills and Aftermath
Following the defeat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju withdrew two related Bills: the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, intended to implement the proposed women’s quota law in specific Union territories.
- The Bills were introduced during a three-day special session of Parliament, which was an extended Budget session.
- The ruling NDA, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, announced a nationwide campaign against the Opposition, accusing them of blocking efforts to increase women's representation.
Debate and Discussions
Amit Shah urged the Opposition to support the delimitation exercise, highlighting its importance in maintaining the constitutional principle of “one vote-one value.” He pointed out significant discrepancies in elector numbers across constituencies.
- Opposition leaders expressed distrust, citing past experiences with the government.
- Demands for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations in legislatures were also discussed.
Provisions of the Bill and Opposition Stance
The Bill proposed an increase in Lok Sabha seats to 816 from the current 543 to accommodate 33% reservation for women, based on the 2011 Census. Prime Minister Modi and other senior leaders participated in the debate and voting.
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, insisted on immediate implementation of women’s reservation.
- Shah accused the Congress of historically failing women, citing various examples.
The defeat of the Bill underscores significant political challenges and discussions around women's representation, electoral reforms, and caste-based reservations in Indian politics.
