The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced by the Central government in the Lok Sabha has been defeated in the House after failing to secure the required majority. A total of 528 Members of Parliament participated in the voting, with 298 voting in favor and 230 opposing the bill, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
Following the result, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill have also been withdrawn. Consequently, all three key legislations introduced by the government could not be passed.
The development marks a significant setback to the Centre’s reform agenda, particularly the proposal to implement 33 percent reservation for women in legislative bodies. The failure of the amendment effectively halts the rollout of women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies for the time being.
Additionally, the rejection of the bills means there will be no immediate increase in the number of seats in the Lok Sabha or across state assembly constituencies. The outcome is being seen as a major political turning point, with implications for electoral reforms and representation across the country.