Narendra Modi Targets Opposition After Women’s Quota Bill Fails in Lok Sabha

New Delhi — A day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on women’s reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticised opposition parties, accusing them of putting “selfish politics” ahead of national interest.

Expressing disappointment over the outcome, Modi said it was unfortunate that a proposal aimed at enhancing women’s representation could not secure the required support. He alleged that parties such as the Indian National Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party opposed the Bill for political reasons.

The Prime Minister claimed that these parties prioritised their organisational interests over the rights and aspirations of women. He also suggested that women voters would remember the opposition to the Bill and respond accordingly in future elections.

Modi further argued that the Bill was in line with the vision of the Constitution’s framers and was intended to expand representation, not take away opportunities from any group. He noted that the proposal aimed to grant women their due representation ahead of the 2029 general elections, an issue he said had remained unresolved for decades.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which proposed 33% reservation for women in Parliament — fell short of the required two-thirds majority. It received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, missing the 352 votes needed for passage.

Earlier, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju described the Bill’s defeat as a major setback for the country, blaming opposition parties for blocking what he called a significant reform.

With inputs from IANS