Constitution Amendment Bill Fails In Lok Sabha Despite Majority

The Lok Sabha on Friday saw the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fail to pass, despite securing a simple majority, as it fell short of the two-thirds requirement needed for constitutional amendments.

Where the Bill Stands

After two days of intense debate, the Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, but could not meet the threshold required for approval.

The proposed legislation aimed to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats, linking the expansion to a long-pending delimitation exercise that would redraw constituencies based on population changes. It also sought to implement a 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies starting in 2029, a reform that had earlier been tied to the completion of delimitation.

The government argued that expanding and redistributing seats was necessary to address the growing gap between voters and their representatives, a consequence of frozen constituency boundaries based on the 1971 Census.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah strongly backed the Bill, asserting that women across the country were closely watching the proceedings.

Shah accused the Congress of historically blocking delimitation and argued that linking women’s reservation to the process was essential for equitable representation.

Opposition parties, however, contended that the move served political motives. They alleged that it could shift electoral advantage towards northern states with higher population growth. This could potentially reduce representation for southern states.

Following the Bill’s defeat, two related proposals will not move forward: the Delimitation Bill and a separate amendment extending women’s reservation to Union Territories.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed the government would not proceed with them after the setback.

The outcome highlights deep divisions over balancing regional representation with gender equity.

The framework for women’s reservation came into effect in 2023, but its implementation remains uncertain, with timelines now pushed further.

The development marks a rare legislative setback for the government and underscores the challenges of building consensus on structural reforms affecting representation and political equity.