The Women’s Reservation Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha after it failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority, following two days of intense debate. The proposed Constitution Amendment Bill, often referred to as the “Nari Bill,” could not pass as the ruling NDA fell short of the required numbers during voting.

Speaker Confirms Defeat

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla officially announced that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill did not pass due to its inability to achieve the required majority. The outcome marked a significant setback for the government’s push to implement women’s reservation in Parliament.

Heated Political Exchanges

The debate witnessed sharp confrontations between the ruling party and the opposition. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused opposition parties of being “anti-women” for opposing the bill. In response, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed the bill “anti-national,” intensifying the political clash.

Several other opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi, also voiced strong objections, raising concerns over aspects of the bill and its implications.

PM Modi’s Appeal

A day before the voting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged all lawmakers to avoid politicising the issue and to support the bill in the spirit of women’s empowerment. Despite the appeal, consensus could not be reached in the House.

What Lies Ahead

Following the bill’s defeat, the BJP-led Centre has decided to shift its focus to other legislative measures. The government plans to move forward with the Delimitation Bill and introduce a separate proposal to amend women’s reservation in Union Territories.

The failure of the bill has sparked fresh debate over political priorities, consensus-building, and the future of women’s representation in Indian politics.