Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Congress calls Modi's women's reservation bill appeal 'drama'
In India, a plan was made to set aside 33 percent of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all political parties to support a bill linked to this reservation.
The Congress party, however, said this request is just 'drama.'
Congress believes the reservation should start right away, using the current 543 seats in the Lok Sabha.
That would mean 182 seats reserved for women, starting from 2029.
The government's bill instead connected the reservation to delimitation and would raise Lok Sabha seats to 816.
To become law, the bill needed a two-thirds majority of votes in the Lok Sabha.
When the vote happened, 298 members supported it and 230 opposed it, but 352 votes were required, so the bill failed.
Modi said the issue has been stuck in political wrangling for 40 years and urged parties to come together for women.
Congress says the government's real aim is 'Modi preservation,' not women's reservation.
Congress termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for the delimitation-linked women's reservation bill a 'drama,' alleging his single-point agenda is 'Modi preservation, not women's reservation.'
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the quota should be implemented on the current 543-member strength of the Lok Sabha, reserving 182 seats for women from the 2029 polls.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, seeking 33% reservation for women in legislatures and raising Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17 during the Budget Session.
Of the 528 MPs who voted, 298 supported and 230 opposed the Bill, which required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
In his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, Modi appealed to all political parties to come together and ensure 33% reservation for women, saying the issue has been stuck in political wrangling for 40 years.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress party, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh responding to the PM's appeal.
- What
- A clash between the government and opposition over the delimitation-linked women's reservation Constitution Amendment Bill, which was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
- When
- Modi made his appeal in his August 2026 Independence Day speech from the Red Fort; the Bill had been defeated earlier on April 17 during the Budget Session.
- Where
- India, with the appeal made from the Red Fort and the Bill debated in the Lok Sabha.
- Why
- Congress argues women's reservation should be implemented immediately on the current 543-seat Lok Sabha strength for the 2029 polls, while the government linked it to delimitation, which opposition parties rejected.
Congress and Opposition parties
Government under PM Modi
Link between reservation and delimitation
Congress and Opposition parties
Women's reservation should be implemented immediately on the current 543-member strength of the Lok Sabha, reserving 182 seats from the 2029 elections.
Government under PM Modi
The delimitation-linked bill would implement 33% reservation in 2029 while increasing Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816.
Sincerity of the appeal
Congress and Opposition parties
The appeal is 'drama' from the Red Fort; Modi's single-point agenda is 'Modi preservation, not women's reservation.'
Government under PM Modi
The issue has been stuck in political wrangling for 40 years; parties should come together under the national flag and can take credit for passing the legislation.
Why the bill failed
Congress and Opposition parties
The government tried to secure a 'tainted two-thirds majority' and does not have the numbers; the bill could not be brought even in the Monsoon Session.
Government under PM Modi
Modi urged opposition parties to support the bill, saying it is the need of the hour for women to contribute to evolving India's policies.
- Proposed measure
- 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, with Lok Sabha seats rising from 543 to 816
- Bill status
- Defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17 during the Budget Session
- Vote result
- 298 in favour, 230 against out of 528 MPs; 352 votes (two-thirds) were required
- Earlier law
- Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 passed unanimously in September 2023, notified on April 16, 2026
- Opposition demand
- Reservation on the current 543-member Lok Sabha, reserving 182 seats from the 2029 election
- PM's appeal
- Made in Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, urging all parties to support the bill as the 'need of the hour'
- Congress allegation
- Modi's single-point agenda is 'Modi preservation, not women's reservation'