New Delhi, April 18: Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha marked a setback to what she described as an attempt to alter the federal structure, asserting that Opposition unity played a decisive role in blocking the proposal.
Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee office, she said the outcome reflected a “victory for democracy” following the Bill’s failure to secure the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority in the House. The legislation, which sought to introduce 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament while linking it to delimitation and expansion of seats, was voted down after a day-long debate.
The Bill secured 278 votes in favour and 211 against, falling short of the required threshold. Its defeat has stalled both the proposed increase in Lok Sabha strength and the timeline for implementing women’s reservation.
Priyanka Gandhi argued that the Opposition had acted collectively to prevent changes she said could impact the federal balance. She also questioned the intent behind linking women’s reservation with delimitation, stating that the two issues should not be combined.
Referring to remarks made during the parliamentary debate, she said statements by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister suggested political calculations tied to the Bill. She added that the Opposition was surprised by the timing of the Special Session amid ongoing Assembly elections, describing it as a strategic move by the government.
The Congress leader maintained that women’s representation should be implemented without delay and called for the provisions of the 2023 legislation on reservation to be operationalised independently. She said the Opposition remains ready to support measures that ensure immediate representation for women in legislatures.
She also cited issues affecting women, including rising costs of essential commodities, stating that economic pressures continue to impact households. According to her, these concerns require substantive policy responses rather than political messaging.
Priyanka Gandhi further said recent developments indicate challenges for the government, adding that public perception is shaped by both economic conditions and legislative decisions.
She reiterated that the defeat of the Bill demonstrated the impact of coordinated Opposition action in Parliament. The outcome has intensified political exchanges between the ruling alliance and Opposition parties over the approach to constitutional reforms and women’s representation.
The development leaves the future of women’s reservation tied to broader consensus on delimitation and parliamentary restructuring, which remains unresolved.
