Lok Sabha Rejects Bill to Expand Size and Ensure Women's Reservation
Lok Sabha rejects delimitation bill to increase House size; government's first defeat since 2014
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The Lok Sabha rejected a Constitution amendment bill aimed at increasing its size to 850 and ensuring 33% reservation for women, marking the government's first legislative defeat since 2014. The bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, with a final vote tally of 298-230, as the Opposition united against it.
- 01The 131st Constitution amendment bill aimed to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 and implement 33% women's reservation.
- 02The bill was defeated with a vote of 298-230, marking the first defeat of a government bill since 2014.
- 03The Opposition accused the government of attempting to alter India's political structure through this bill.
- 04The 2023 Women's Reservation Act remains in effect but requires a delimitation bill for implementation.
- 05Past attempts to pass women's reservation have faced significant opposition and delays since the 1990s.
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On Friday, the Lok Sabha rejected the 131st Constitution amendment bill, which sought to increase the size of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and ensure 33% reservation for women. This marked the first defeat of a government bill since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power in 2014. The bill failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority, with a final vote of 298-230. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's last-minute offer to include a 50% proportional increase for all states did not sway the Opposition, which united against the proposal, arguing it was not genuinely about women's rights but an attempt to change the political structure of India. The 2023 Women's Reservation Act, which mandates women's quotas, remains valid but is contingent upon the passage of a delimitation bill. The NDA's response included protests against the Opposition, labeling them as anti-women, while the Opposition celebrated the defeat as a victory for democracy. This incident highlights the contentious history of women's reservation in India, with previous attempts facing significant hurdles since the 1990s.
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The rejection of this bill affects the future implementation of women's reservation in India, potentially delaying progress toward gender equality in political representation.
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