‘Implement Women’s Reservation Act’

Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hailed the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha as a “huge victory for democracy” and a “black day” for the Centre, accusing the Modi government of using women’s reservation as a cover for a deeper “conspiracy” to alter India’s federal structure and secure long-term political power. 

Addressing a packed press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the previous day’s parliamentary outcome as a triumph for the Constitution, the country, and the unity of the opposition INDIA alliance. “What happened yesterday was a huge victory for democracy. The government’s conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped. This was a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the country, and a victory for the unity of the opposition,” she said, noting that the shock was visible on the faces of ruling party leaders. 

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, introduced on April 16 during a special parliamentary session, sought to amend the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act by linking the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to a fresh delimitation exercise. It proposed increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to around 816-850 seats based on the 2011 Census data and redrawing constituencies accordingly. The bill, along with two linked pieces of legislation on Union Territories and delimitation, failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17, with 298 votes in favour and 230 against out of 528 members present and voting. 

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra argued that the government’s move was never genuinely about empowering women but a calculated political strategy. “I think it’s a conspiracy that somehow they need to stay in power… So, to achieve this, they’re planning how to permanently stay in power using women,” she said. She alleged that the ruling dispensation believed delimitation carried out on their terms now would help them retain power beyond 2029. “They thought that if the Bill passed, they’d win. If it’s not passed, they’ll become the saviours of women by branding other parties as anti-women… We know that becoming a savior for women isn’t easy,” she added pointedly. 

The Congress leader repeatedly stressed that the opposition’s stand was not against women’s reservation itself but against “twisting” the issue by tying it to delimitation, which, she claimed, would disproportionately affect representation of southern and north-eastern states and bypass demands for a caste census. “Men do not want to give up their seats,” she remarked, underscoring resistance to any radical overhaul of parliamentary composition without broader consensus. 

In a direct challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded immediate implementation of the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act on the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats, without any linkage to delimitation. “Bring back the bill that was passed unanimously in 2023… Hold Parliament on Monday, bring the bill and let’s see who is anti-woman. We will all vote and support you,” she declared, insisting the Centre prove its commitment to women rather than indulging in “messiah politics.”  She warned that women across the country are “not fools” and are increasingly aware of the government’s unfulfilled promises amid growing challenges.

“The problems of women today are growing exponentially. The struggle is growing. Women aren’t fools. They see everything,” she said.  The press conference, attended by senior Congress leaders including Jairam Ramesh, came hours after the bill’s dramatic rejection, which has intensified political debate ahead of future electoral battles. Opposition parties have united in framing the defeat as a safeguard for federalism and democratic principles, while the BJP is expected to counter that the INDIA bloc has blocked a historic opportunity for women’s empowerment.