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.