Parliament special sitting highlights: Constitution Amendment Bill to expand Lok Sabha seats to 850 defeated

The Congress on Friday said the “nefarious attempt” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to link their “dangerous delimitation proposals” to women’s reservation has been decisively defeated in the Lok Sabha, and asserted that it was a win for democracy and the Constitution. 

The Opposition party said the defeat also calls into question the legitimacy of “the non-biological, non-grihasthi PM.” 

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The nefarious and mischievous attempt of the PM and HM to link their dangerous delimitation proposals to women’s reservation (that had already been settled) has been decisively defeated in the Lok Sabha.” “This is a win for our democracy, our federalism, and the Constitution. This also calls into question the legitimacy of the non-biological, non-grihasthi PM,” Mr. Ramesh said. 

The next steps for the Modi Government are clear -- they should implement 33% reservation for women in the existing set up of the Lok Sabha for the 2029 elections, he said. 

“This has been the consistent demand of the entire Opposition ever since September 2023 when the Parliament unanimously passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act 2023 - which finally got notified only late last night,” Mr. Ramesh said. 

-PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Constitution Amendment Bill brought by the government to tweak the women’s quota law was an attack on the Constitution, which the Opposition has defeated. 

The Bill was not aimed at providing women reservation, but an attempt to change India’s electoral structure, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said. 

“As I have said, it was an attack on the Constitution and we defeated that,” he said outside Parliament.

“We clearly said that this was not a women’s bill, but an attempt to change India’s electoral structure which we have stopped,” he added. 

-PTI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday said “Tamil Nadu defeats Delhi” on the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Quickly reacting to the defeat of the Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha in the Lower House, Mr. Stalin posted in social media a portrait of him setting on fire a copy of the Delimitation Bill.

Further, Mr. Stalin said: “On April 23, we will defeat Delhi’s arrogance, together with slaves who support that arrogance.” 

-PTI

The government on Friday said it would not proceed with two related Bills linked to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, stressing that they could not be viewed in isolation.

Addressing the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described the legislation as an important and historic measure for women, but expressed disappointment over the Opposition’s lack of support. 

The government said the outcome reflected a missed opportunity for consensus on a key reform.

Mr. Rijiju reiterated that efforts to ensure greater respect and representation for women would continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill fails to pass in Lok Sabha. 

The Bill could not secure the required two-thirds majority. 

Speaking on women’s reservation, Amit Shah says participation of women in politics has steadily increased over the years, citing that there were 22 women members in the first Lok Sabha, 51 in the 14th, a record 71 in the 17th, and 75 in the 18th. 

He says this data reflects a clear upward trend. “We need to provide a larger platform to further enhance this participation.”

He adds that the government has supported this effort in both letter and spirit. “Members like Uma Bharti, Anandiben Patel, Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje were pioneers in leading States. Delhi now also has a woman Chief Minister.” he adds. 

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on women’s reservation, Amit Shah says the 33% quota for women in panchayats was introduced in 1992 under then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, but alleged that the Congress never supported him. 

He adds that when H.D. Deve Gowda became Prime Minister in 1996, some parties opposed the proposed amendment to bring in women’s reservation law. 

Replying to the debate on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah says the Congress party has historically opposed caste-based census and reservation. 

He says, the Congress party, in all these years never had an OBC Prime Minister. “This changed after Narendra Modi became the PM,” he says. 

“In 1980, former PM Indira Gandhi put the Mandal Commission on hold. In 1990, when Rajiv Gandhi became the PM, it was accepted, and he gave a two-and-a-half-hour speech and opposed OBC reservation,” Mr. Shah says. 

For Congress, winning elections is priority, but for us, representation of the people of our country, and their participation are more important, Mr. Shah says in Lok Sabha. 

Home Minister Amit Shah urges all the members of the House to pass the Bills. 

He assures of official amendment mentioning 50% increase in LS seats across States if Opposition agrees

Mr. Shah suggests the House can be adjourned for one hour, discuss, come back and pass the Bills. 

SP MP Akhilesh Yadav says he doesn’t believe the BJP government to bring in positive reforms. 

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah says there is a perception among members that southern representation will diminish after delimitation. 

“I want to make it clear that south representation will not come down post delimitation, I can guarantee that,” he says. 

Speaking in the House on Friday, Amit Shah says Congress deprived people of delimitation when it was in power. 

“It is still doing the same,” he adds. 

He says people opposing delimitation are against an increase in number of SC, ST seats. 

Speaking in the House on Friday, Amit Shah says, MPs from the southern India have the same right as the members from the northern parts of the country. 

“Even people from a small UT like Lakshadweep should be fairly represented,” Mr. Shah says. 

Home Minister Amit Shah says the population of India has significantly gone up between 1976 and 2026. However, the number of MPs representing this population has not increased proportionately, he says. 

“Every voter should have an equal value for their right, and post this expansion, we believe, they will,” Mr. Shah says. 

We are increasing seats in each State by 50%, on pro rata basis, Mr. Shah adds. “We will make sure none of the voters remain unrepresented,” he adds. 

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah says there is an imbalanced representation in the country. “In some States, a few lakhs of people are represented by one MP, and in others, a few thousands,” he says. 

This imbalance in ratio of voters to MPs can be corrected through delimitation, Mr. Shah adds. 

He further goes on to say Indira Gandhi brought in delimitation when she was the Prime Minister. “She increased the Lok Sabha seats from 522 to 543 in 1972,” he says. 

Replying to the debate on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah says the Narendra Modi government has brought in these administrative reforms to empower women, and to achieve balanced representation. 

“Only after the delimitation process is done, we shall bring in the women’s reservation law,” he says. 

Union minister Annpurna Devi on Friday said the proposed amendment to the women’s reservation act reflects the aspirations of crores of women and will mark a historic step towards ensuring their greater participation in lawmaking.

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments to the women’s quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, the minister for women and child development said the bills are strong proof of women’s rights and dignity in India.

“Crores of women across the country are watching the proceedings with great hope and expectation. After decades of struggle, they feel their aspirations are finally being fulfilled,” Ms. Devi said.

Claiming that such efforts faced repeated delays earlier, she said, “Whenever it comes to giving rights to women, the opposition creates hurdles to delay and derail the process.” She also questioned the Congress’ record on OBC issues, saying the party failed to act on key measures despite being in power for decades.

“You (Congress) ruled the country for 50 years. Why didn’t you act on the Mandal Commission report? Why was the OBC Commission not given constitutional status?” she asked.

“It was under Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the OBC Commission was granted constitutional status,” she said. 

-PTI

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad says the party is opposed to the Delimitation Bill which the government is trying to pass under the guise of women’s reservation.

“This Bill has already been passed in 2023 and it should have been implemented in 2024 itself. If it had been, we wouldn’t be sitting here having this discussion. Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi have already mentioned this law should have been implemented in 2024 elections itself to recognise women,” she adds, referring to the Congress as being pro-women through the years by electing them as party chiefs, chief ministers and prime ministers.

“Can BJP elect a woman chief for their party? Can RSS chief be a woman,” Ms. Gaikwad asks.

Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy described the DMK’s arguments against bills to tweak the women quota law as “fear mongering” and said they do not represent the views of the southern States.

Congress is not prepared to handle the massive change and that the party has lost touch with people and does not know how to cope with this transformation, he added. “The Congress, which has lost the capacity to think independently, lost its ability to develop its own arguments is now being led by the DMK’s narrative.”

“Rahul Gandhi called himself the younger brother of (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) M.K. Stalin sometime back but it appears that after the seat-sharing dispute, the elder brother is angry with the younger brother. The younger brother is still looking for some love from the older brother...,” he said.

PTI

Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, speaking during the discussion in Lok Sabha, condemns the “unparliamentary expressions” used by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in his speech opposing amendments to women’s quota law.

Speaking in favour of the Bills, Ms. Devi alleges that the Opposition MPs’ attempts is breaking the hopes and expectations of crores of women who are looking forward to the 33% reservation.

On matters of delimitaion, Ms. Devi says Union Home Minister Amit Shah will elaborate and clarify the details during his speech in the Lok Sabha today.

Jammu & Kashmir National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad says there was no merit and chaos was carried out in the name of delimitation in J&K and Assam. He also questioned the need for a special sitting of the Parliament on women’s reservation.

“If you want to carry out delimitation, it should be conducted with better credibility of the Delimitation Commission,” he says, adding that the commission visited J&K only for two days and was primarily based in New Delhi which created a lot of confusion. 

”You are talking about delimitation? If the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, is implemented as the government has notified, we are ready to implement it from tomorrow based on 543 seats and it’ll happen... Who will be responsible for southern States? They will lose out on seats and Rahul Gandhi will be responsible for it,” Nishikant Dubey says.

He appeals to the members of the House to allow for the implementation of women’s quota from 2029, while protecting the southern States and women of all sections.

During BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s speech referring to Congress leaders historically opposing the caste census, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rises to ask questions on when it will be conducted and whether OBC women will be included in the women’s reservation law.

To this, Kiren Rijiju says specific answers shall be elaborated on during Home Minister Amit Shah’s reply in the Lok Sabha.

“Do not flip too many pages of the history book,” Mr. Yadav quips as Mr. Dubey continues

After Rahul Gandhi’s speech, BJP MP Anurag Thakur rises to point out that the Congress leader repeatedly walks out after saying “wrongful” things. He adds that it is against the rules of the House.

To this, Chair Jagdambika Pal requests the House to maintain decorum and clarifies that anyone who wishes to move out of the House, can do so.

“I know much more than what I am saying this House,” Rahul Gandhi says, pointing towards the ruling MPs. He adds the Opposition will defeat the Bill in the next 30-45 minutes.

He terms PM Modi’s speech in Lok Sabha on Thursday (April 16, 2026) as “low energy” in which “nothing was transmitting”. He repeats his claim that it is a panic move by the BJP.

He refers to the date and says “16 is the number, it is the whole answer to the riddle.”

Amid continued disruption, Rahul Gandhi attempts to continue his speech. Speaker Birla reprimands him over not speaking on the Bill and using “unparliamentary expressions” in the House.

“BJP thinks they are the people of India. They think also think they are the armed forces. They should stop hiding behind them. We will defeat this Bill right here,” he says.

Rahul Gandhi says the BJP knew very clearly that this Bill actually cannot be passed. Further he says: “They are not stupid and knew every Opposition person will oppose. This was a panic reaction. Prime Minister wanted to send two messages: he wanted to change the electoral map and wanted to send another message that he is pro-women.”

“Why he’s doing that? I will leave to your imagination.”

“We know exactly why he is doing it,” he asserts

Referring to Dalits and OBCs, Rahul Gandhi says: “You call them Hindus and you do not give them any space in this country.”

Further, he says the government is trying to “rejig” the political map as it did in Jammu and Kashmir, and Assam. 

He adds that both Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee understood the “dangers of it (delimitation)” and did not allow for it to happen.

Amid din in the House over Rahul Gandhi’s speech, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rises to request the LoP to not extend the speech beyond time. “We will allow you to speak without disruption and that side should allow to”

Speaker Om Birla makes repeated requests to maintain decorum of the House and urges Rahul Gandhi to speak on the Bill.

“This is nothing short of an anti-national Act. Under no circumstance are we going to allow you to do this. The entire Opposition is going to defeat the attempt of yours to attack the nation state and deprive the Dalits and OBCs of their rightful place in society,” Rahul Gandhi states.

“I want to assure the southern, northeastern, and smaller States that we will not allow the government to touch your representation in the Union of India,” he adds.

Stating that the Bill has “nothing to do” with women empowerment, Rahul Gandhi says that it is an attempt to change the electoral map of India. 

Highlighting “truths”, he says this is about bypassing the caste census and “not giving any place” to the minorities of the country including the Dalits and OBCs.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi begins his speech on a lighter note by referring his his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday (April 17, 2026).

“My sister was able to do what I haven’t been able to achieve in the last 20 years, to make Amit Shah laugh,” he said, adding that he appreciates her style of talking which is different than his.

With the Lok Sabha set to vote on the passage of three significant Bill at 4 p.m. today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an appeal to the Members of the House, urging them to “not deprive Nari Shakti of new opportunities”.

“If this amendment is passed unanimously, it will further empower the women of our country and strengthen our democracy. Let us come together today to create history. Let us ensure that the women of India, who are half of the nation’s population, receive their rightful due,” he wrote in a post on X.

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Prime Minister and Home Minister are misguiding the Parliament, said DMK MP A. Raja. 

He said, “It is in the name of women’s right, the govt is promoting discrimination among States. By discrimination you want to promote North-South divide. By this divide you want to have perpetual rule in center. By perpetual power you want to establish theocratic state, by theocratic state you want to impose one language, one culture. We will not permit your dream turn into reality. In Tamil Nadu we will oppose it”

The Delimitation Bill is a blatant attack on cooperative federal structure, said MP Hibi Eden. He asked, PM Modi stated that no States will lose its share, but why isn’t it mentioned in the Delimitation Bill.

States that invested in education, reduced population growth, those states are losing, remarked Mr. Eden. Raising question on Delimitation, he said,” So are we saying that progress will cost power. Delimitation is not arithmetic, its power. Do not link women reservation to a process that will break the federal structure.”

TDP is supporting women reservation Bill and Delimitation Bill, says TDP MP Krishna Devarayalu. He said, “Home Minister Amit Shah clarified on 50% increase of seats for States in LS, so we won’t be losing any seats.”

Kalyan Banerjee said the party will support women reservation, but he demands that it has to be implemented on the present capacity of the Parliament. He said that there is no need to link delimitation with women reservation. 

He claimed BJP does not have enough women representative, saying that 12.91% MPs are women out of all of BJP MPs in LS and only 16.98% in RS. He said that women reservation should not be based on convenience, it should be constitutional, no one should bargain with women reservation.

Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Friday (April 17, 2026) questioned the government’s move to move a Bill to amend the 2023 women’s reservation law before bringing the principal Act into force.

Delimitation requires profound discussion, said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. He said the same haste government showed during demonetisation and the delimitation exercise is political demonetisation.

The 50% increase of seats formula proposed by Amit Shah is precarious political statement, it is not promised by legislature, alleged Mr. Tharoor.

Expanding the LS to 850 seats will result in a body that is unworkable. With the size of the LS increased, there is no proposal to increase the size of RS, it will create an imbalance between two house, said Mr. Tharoor.

We will support the women reservation Bill but for the Delimitation Bill let us defer, remarked Mr. Tharoor.

Nominated member Harivansh was elected Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha unopposed, on Friday (April 17, 2026). ​

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If this govt is confident that the Delimitation Bill is fare then why they are not placing the Bill in T.N. legislature, said DMK MP Kanimozhi. She said the govt didn’t consult with any Chief Minsters of any States. 

She said that in 2021 govt postponed the census adding that the largest country couldn’t conduct census. “They postponed the census, now they are rewarding them with the old census. The special session called in the middle of State election in five States,” said Kanimozhi. She added that BJP came in govt in 2014 and Opposition had written to govt to pass women reservation Bill. She said Opposition parties have raised this issue in Parliament. Now the government can’t even wait for two weeks. BJP is using women as electoral rescue strategy, alleged DMK MP Kanimozhi.

On Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal said, “Let the government call an all-party meeting. Let them withdraw this bill and call an all-party meeting. We are ready for the complete implementation of Women’s Reservation Bill within the existing 543 seats. Keep 543 as the total number and reserve one-third for women. You are not safeguarding the interests of women through this bill. If you truly want to safeguard the interests of women, this is the best way. In the name of women, you are trying to hijack democracy, which we cannot allow.” ​

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The INDIA bloc MPs are scheduled to hold a meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber in Parliament at 10 a.m. on Friday (April 17) to chalk out the strategy for the Floor of the House.

This comes as Lok Sabha today is set to continue discussion and vote on the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides 33% reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies, along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extending it to Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, and the Delimitation Bill, which is set to increase and redraw Lok Sabha constituencies, increasing them up to 850. - ANI

National Conference member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday (April 16, 2026) that the delimitation Bill would impact the constituencies in such a way that “minorities will cease to have political and electoral power.”

He said the gerrymandering of seats done in Jammu and Kashmir through the delimitation exercise would be repeated across the country.

Read the full article here,

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday (April 16, 2026) asked the Union government to operationalise the women’s reservation law only after completing the caste census, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of reducing “ nari” (women) to a mere “ nara” (slogan).

DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday (April 16) demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi provide a written assurance in Parliament that Parliamentary constituencies would continue to be determined based on the 1971 population for the next 25 years.

Read the full article here,

Women parliamentarians across party lines on Thursday (April 16, 2026), weighing in on the debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, and those bringing in delimitation in the States and Union Territories, while endorsing their party line, cited, in several instances, the positive role of the male founders and leaders of their parties in enabling the participation of women in jobs, education, and politics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (April 16, 2026) told the Lok Sabha that the Bills to amend the women’s reservation law and carry out a fresh delimitation exercise will keep current proportional representation of southern States intact while increasing the absolute number of seats for each State approximately by 50%.