Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm on Saturday. The government and the ruling party have not yet shared anything about the subject the PM may speak about, but it is likely that he will dwell on the issue of implementing the women’s quota and the developments in Parliament, where opposition parties voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.&nbsp;The PM’s address to the nation comes a day after a major setback for the NDA government in the Lok Sabha, where the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to the Women’s Reservation policy failed to pass.&nbsp;&nbsp;The proposed legislation, tied to the implementation of women’s reservation through delimitation, required a two-thirds majority but fell short after a lengthy and heated debate.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-suspended-nuclear-programme-deal-to-end-war-mostly-complete-says-trump-1776450628924">Iran has suspended nuclear programme, deal to end war ‘mostly complete,’ says Trump</a>&nbsp;In the voting, 298 members supported the bill, while 230 opposed it, resulting in its defeat. The voting outcome is a rare legislative loss for the government on a key reform measure it had been pushing.&nbsp;PM Modi’s last address to the nation was on September 21, when he spoke about GST reforms.&nbsp;Under the bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased up to 816 from the current 543 to ‘operationalise’ the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.&nbsp;A two-thirds majority was needed to pass the bill, but the NDA could not muster the numbers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-will-get-all-of-iran-s-nuclear-dust-won-t-pay-anything-for-it-1776442071680">Trump says US will get all of Iran’s ‘nuclear dust’, won’t pay anything for it</a><h2>Opposition blocking women’s reservation, says Amit Shah</h2>&nbsp;Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the opposition of blocking women’s reservation, while opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, maintained that they support the quota but oppose its linkage to delimitation.&nbsp;Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that the defeat of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha should not be viewed as a failure of the government and accused the Congress party of causing a big setback to the country. Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the Budget session, Rijiju said that the opposition will have to bear the brunt of being anti-women.&nbsp;“The Budget Session was extended for three days April 16, 17, 18 during which Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and Delimitation Bill were introduced. We have the majority, but we didn’t get the 2/3rd majority needed for Constitution Amendment,” Rijiju said. “Congress will have to face the anger of women; celebrating women’s defeat is proof of their anti-women mindset,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-state-media-slam-foreign-minister-araghchi-s-hormuz-tweet-say-it-let-trump-claim-victory-1776457471014">Iran’s state media slam Foreign Minister Araghchi’s Hormuz tweet, say it let Trump claim victory</a>&nbsp;<h2>‘Victory of democracy’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra</h2>&nbsp;Earlier, addressing a press conference, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Centre was planning to stay in power using women. She hailed the defeat of the Delimitation Bill as a “victory of democracy” and accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy to alter the federal structure of the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;BJP leader Smriti Irani lashed out at Congress MPs celebrating the defeat of the bill and accused the party of crushing the aspirations of ordinary women in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strait-of-hormuz-completely-open-for-all-commercial-vessels-for-remaining-ceasefire-iran-fm-araghchi-1776431393427">Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’; Trump thanks, says naval blockade to continue till deal</a>&nbsp;“The Congress party appeared self-congratulatory, smiling and thumping desks, celebrating what was portrayed as having crushed the aspirations of ordinary women in this country,” she added.&nbsp;&nbsp;The BJP has accused opposition parties of blocking a historic reform aimed at ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.&nbsp;

The proposed legislation, tied to the implementation of women’s reservation through delimitation, required a two-thirds majority but fell short after a lengthy and heated debate. In the voting, 298 members supported the bill, while 230 opposed it, resulting in its defeat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm on Saturday. The government and the ruling party have not yet shared anything about the subject the PM may speak about, but it is likely that he will dwell on the issue of implementing the women’s quota and the developments in Parliament, where opposition parties voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. The PM’s address to the nation comes a day after a major setback for the NDA government in the Lok Sabha, where the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to the Women’s Reservation policy failed to pass. The proposed legislation, tied to the implementation of women’s reservation through delimitation, required a two-thirds majority but fell short after a lengthy and heated debate. Also Read: Iran has suspended nuclear programme, deal to end war ‘mostly complete,’ says Trump In the voting, 298 members supported the bill, while 230 opposed it, resulting in its defeat. The voting outcome is a rare legislative loss for the government on a key reform measure it had been pushing. PM Modi’s last address to the nation was on September 21, when he spoke about GST reforms. Under the bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased up to 816 from the current 543 to ‘operationalise’ the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. A two-thirds majority was needed to pass the bill, but the NDA could not muster the numbers. Also Read: Trump says US will get all of Iran’s ‘nuclear dust’, won’t pay anything for it Opposition blocking women’s reservation, says Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the opposition of blocking women’s reservation, while opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, maintained that they support the quota but oppose its linkage to delimitation. Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that the defeat of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha should not be viewed as a failure of the government and accused the Congress party of causing a big setback to the country. Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the Budget session, Rijiju said that the opposition will have to bear the brunt of being anti-women. “The Budget Session was extended for three days April 16, 17, 18 during which Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and Delimitation Bill were introduced. We have the majority, but we didn’t get the 2/3rd majority needed for Constitution Amendment,” Rijiju said. “Congress will have to face the anger of women; celebrating women’s defeat is proof of their anti-women mindset,” he added. Also Read: Iran’s state media slam Foreign Minister Araghchi’s Hormuz tweet, say it let Trump claim victory ‘Victory of democracy’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Earlier, addressing a press conference, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Centre was planning to stay in power using women. She hailed the defeat of the Delimitation Bill as a “victory of democracy” and accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy to alter the federal structure of the country. BJP leader Smriti Irani lashed out at Congress MPs celebrating the defeat of the bill and accused the party of crushing the aspirations of ordinary women in the country. Also Read: Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’; Trump thanks, says naval blockade to continue till deal “The Congress party appeared self-congratulatory, smiling and thumping desks, celebrating what was portrayed as having crushed the aspirations of ordinary women in this country,” she added. The BJP has accused opposition parties of blocking a historic reform aimed at ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

The proposed legislation, tied to the implementation of women’s reservation through delimitation, required a two-thirds majority but fell short after a lengthy and heated debate. In the voting, 298 members supported the bill, while 230 opposed it, resulting in its defeat.

PM Modi to address the nation at 8.30 pm after women’s reservation bill fails to muster support

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the high-stakes Lok Sabha debate on April 17, saying that if the legendary military strategist “Chankay” had been shocked by his political "cunning". She quipped that Amit Shah is "laughing”, drawing laughter from the whole assembly."Grahmantri ji has rahe hain. Poori yojana bana rakhi hai, Chanakya agar jinda hote toh woh bhi chauk jaate aapki rajnitik kutilta par (The Home Minister is laughing. The whole plan is made. If Chanakya were alive today, he would have also been shocked by your political shrewdness)," said Priyanka Gandhi in the intensive legislative debate that ensued following the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill and its political implications.Priyanka Gandhi, while discussing the legislative package introduced in Lok Sabha, observed that the Home Minister, in the guise of the Women's Reservation Bill, was undertaking an exercise of delimitation that was a "political trump card" designed to give the BJP a political advantage in the General Assembly election.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delimitation-bill-2026-explained-lok-sabha-expansion-india-bloc-opposition-1776331683294">What is the Delimitation Bill? Why the Union Government is pegging it to the Women Reservation Law</a>"He (Shah) made the whole plan, and he is laughing now. He agrees with me," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, implying his agreement with her assessment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi framed the 33 per cent women's quota as a historic atonement, wrote an op-ed to garner support, but opposition in unison denied the move and called it a strategy for electoral survival."This seems fine on the surface, but the real meaning comes to the fore when one carefully reads it. It smells of politics," said Priyanka Gandhi. She added that the proposed delimitation and increase of seats in the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 is ingenious but lacks sincerity.She urged that the Union Government could provide 33 per cent reservation to these 543 seats today instead of removing the long-standing "freeze" on redrawing constituency boundaries to create a situation of federal crisis, creating an imbalance of political power between North and South.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">If Chanakya had been alive, he would have got surprised after seeing the BJP’s conspiracy to win elections. — Priyanka Gandhi Ji slams fake Chanakya 😂 <a href="https://t.co/ypt3Za760s">pic.twitter.com/ypt3Za760s</a>&mdash; Shantanu (@shaandelhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/shaandelhite/status/2044760841732632688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha, calling the delimitation plan under the Women’s Reservation Bill a “political move” that could reshape electoral balance.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the high-stakes Lok Sabha debate on April 17, saying that if the legendary military strategist “Chankay” had been shocked by his political "cunning". She quipped that Amit Shah is "laughing”, drawing laughter from the whole assembly. "Grahmantri ji has rahe hain. Poori yojana bana rakhi hai, Chanakya agar jinda hote toh woh bhi chauk jaate aapki rajnitik kutilta par (The Home Minister is laughing. The whole plan is made. If Chanakya were alive today, he would have also been shocked by your political shrewdness)," said Priyanka Gandhi in the intensive legislative debate that ensued following the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill and its political implications. Priyanka Gandhi, while discussing the legislative package introduced in Lok Sabha, observed that the Home Minister, in the guise of the Women's Reservation Bill, was undertaking an exercise of delimitation that was a "political trump card" designed to give the BJP a political advantage in the General Assembly election. Also Read: What is the Delimitation Bill? Why the Union Government is pegging it to the Women Reservation Law "He (Shah) made the whole plan, and he is laughing now. He agrees with me," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, implying his agreement with her assessment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi framed the 33 per cent women's quota as a historic atonement, wrote an op-ed to garner support, but opposition in unison denied the move and called it a strategy for electoral survival. "This seems fine on the surface, but the real meaning comes to the fore when one carefully reads it. It smells of politics," said Priyanka Gandhi. She added that the proposed delimitation and increase of seats in the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 is ingenious but lacks sincerity. She urged that the Union Government could provide 33 per cent reservation to these 543 seats today instead of removing the long-standing "freeze" on redrawing constituency boundaries to create a situation of federal crisis, creating an imbalance of political power between North and South.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha, calling the delimitation plan under the Women’s Reservation Bill a “political move” that could reshape electoral balance

Priyanka Gandhi targets Amit Shah, says 'Chanakya would be shocked' over delimitation strategy

The Union Government, in its extended Budget Session, started with the introduction of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The voting on the three bills will be held at 4 PM on April 17, 2026. Previously, the Union Government has circulated the draft of Bills among the MPs, which the government claims is in relation to the implementation of the Women Reservation Act, 2023. It met with strong opposition even during its introduction, with all the INDIA Bloc parties voting unanimously against the delimitation provision of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, 2026, &nbsp;warning that the decision will have a detrimental effect on the federal structure of the country.&nbsp;<h2>What is the Delimitation Bill?</h2>The Delimitation Bill is part of the Legislative package and is dependent on the passing of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill. The Union Government, led by the BJP, has issued a three-sentence whip to its MPs- &nbsp;“A key feature of the constitutional amendment is the expansion of the Lok Sabha from its current strength to a maximum of 850 members, with 815 seats allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories.” Together, the legislative package intends to change Article 81 (Composition of Lok Sabha), Article 82 (Readjustment after Census), Article 170 (Composition of State Legislative Assemblies), and Article 334A (Women's Reservation), which will expand the Lok Sabha and withdraw the decade long freeze on the delimitation of the constituencies that has been in place since 1976. It will also create an administrative structure for a new Delimitation Commission comprising a current or former Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner, and State Election Commissioners.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pete-hegseth-impeachment-resolution-democrats-six-articles-explained-1776324002941">Democrats unveil six articles to impeach Pete Hegseth: What are the six articles?</a><h2>Why is the Union Government pegging it to the Women's Reservation Law</h2>The Women Reservation Law, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Constitution 106th Amendment Act, 2023), reserves 33 per cent of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State assemblies of India. The reservation was set for a 15-year period since the date of passing, and since the passing of the law, the reserved seats would be circulated periodically. The act inserted Article 334A in the constitution, which made the implementation of the Act conditional on a new census and a delimitation exercise.<h2>Why is the INDIA bloc opposing the bill?</h2>The INDIA bloc argues that the delimitation was supposed to be done on the 2026 census data, the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill changes it and bases it on the 2011 census data. They further argue that the Union Government is using the Women's Reservation Bill as a basis to carry out the Delimitation exercise and increase the representation of the seats from its core support base in the Hindi heartland. According to a report by the Hindu, the Union Government has claimed that the exercise will increase the seat count of each state by almost 50 per cent. But the exercise intends to increase the representation of Hindi-speaking states from 38.1 per cent to 43.1 per cent and reduce the South from 24.3 to 20.7 per cent, East 14.4 to 13.7 per cent, North East 4.4 per cent to 3.8 per cent, North Non-Hindi 4.3 to 4.4 per cent and West 14.3 to 14.4 per cent when calculated with the 850 proposed members.&nbsp;Tamil Nadu CM has called it a “historic injustice”. It is a Demographic Penalty for regions which has a relatively lower population growth rate compared to the Hindi-speaking North India."We support reserving 33% seats for women based on the current strength of parliament. We also want a further freeze on expanding overall seats in the parliament until population trends stabilise. We object to the haste in convening this session in the middle of an election season," said Jhon Brittas, MP of CPI (M). &nbsp;While Akhilesh Yadav, MP from the Samajwadi Party, has alleged that the Union Government is hasty in its implementation, suggesting that it does not want to ensure the use of caste data from the upcoming census.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Delimitation Bill 2026 proposes expanding the Lok Sabha to 850 seats. Here’s why the INDIA bloc opposes it and how it links to Women’s Reservation.

The Union Government, in its extended Budget Session, started with the introduction of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The voting on the three bills will be held at 4 PM on April 17, 2026. Previously, the Union Government has circulated the draft of Bills among the MPs, which the government claims is in relation to the implementation of the Women Reservation Act, 2023. It met with strong opposition even during its introduction, with all the INDIA Bloc parties voting unanimously against the delimitation provision of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, 2026, warning that the decision will have a detrimental effect on the federal structure of the country. What is the Delimitation Bill? The Delimitation Bill is part of the Legislative package and is dependent on the passing of the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill. The Union Government, led by the BJP, has issued a three-sentence whip to its MPs- “A key feature of the constitutional amendment is the expansion of the Lok Sabha from its current strength to a maximum of 850 members, with 815 seats allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories.” Together, the legislative package intends to change Article 81 (Composition of Lok Sabha), Article 82 (Readjustment after Census), Article 170 (Composition of State Legislative Assemblies), and Article 334A (Women's Reservation), which will expand the Lok Sabha and withdraw the decade long freeze on the delimitation of the constituencies that has been in place since 1976. It will also create an administrative structure for a new Delimitation Commission comprising a current or former Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner, and State Election Commissioners. Also Read: Democrats unveil six articles to impeach Pete Hegseth: What are the six articles? Why is the Union Government pegging it to the Women's Reservation Law The Women Reservation Law, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Constitution 106th Amendment Act, 2023), reserves 33 per cent of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State assemblies of India. The reservation was set for a 15-year period since the date of passing, and since the passing of the law, the reserved seats would be circulated periodically. The act inserted Article 334A in the constitution, which made the implementation of the Act conditional on a new census and a delimitation exercise. Why is the INDIA bloc opposing the bill? The INDIA bloc argues that the delimitation was supposed to be done on the 2026 census data, the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill changes it and bases it on the 2011 census data. They further argue that the Union Government is using the Women's Reservation Bill as a basis to carry out the Delimitation exercise and increase the representation of the seats from its core support base in the Hindi heartland. According to a report by the Hindu, the Union Government has claimed that the exercise will increase the seat count of each state by almost 50 per cent. But the exercise intends to increase the representation of Hindi-speaking states from 38.1 per cent to 43.1 per cent and reduce the South from 24.3 to 20.7 per cent, East 14.4 to 13.7 per cent, North East 4.4 per cent to 3.8 per cent, North Non-Hindi 4.3 to 4.4 per cent and West 14.3 to 14.4 per cent when calculated with the 850 proposed members. Tamil Nadu CM has called it a “historic injustice”. It is a Demographic Penalty for regions which has a relatively lower population growth rate compared to the Hindi-speaking North India. "We support reserving 33% seats for women based on the current strength of parliament. We also want a further freeze on expanding overall seats in the parliament until population trends stabilise. We object to the haste in convening this session in the middle of an election season," said Jhon Brittas, MP of CPI (M). While Akhilesh Yadav, MP from the Samajwadi Party, has alleged that the Union Government is hasty in its implementation, suggesting that it does not want to ensure the use of caste data from the upcoming census.

Delimitation Bill 2026 proposes expanding Lok Sabha to 850 seats. Here’s why the INDIA bloc opposes it and how it links to Women’s Reservation.

What is the Delimitation Bill? Why the Union Government is pegging it to the Women Reservation Law

As the Indian Parliament convenes for a special session to take up the proposed amendment on Delimitation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin continued to express his staunch opposition to Delimitation. He had been citing that Delimitation would be an "injustice against Southern states". On Thursday(April 16th), adorned in a black shirt to register his protest, Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the Delimitation bill, in the presence of party cadre in Namakkal. Stalin has been voicing out against Delimitation and had even convened a meeting of Chief Ministers from Opposition-ruled states that are apprehensive of the impact of Delimitation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delimitation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delimitation</a>: Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu! Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down! 🔥 Then, the fire of resistance against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HindiImposition?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HindiImposition</a> that rose from Tamil Nadu scorched Delhi. It quietened only after Delhi was forced to yield. 🔥… <a href="https://t.co/9zSaH9PBvL">pic.twitter.com/9zSaH9PBvL</a>&mdash; M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkstalin/status/2044608501075656832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Delimitation process involves redrawing Parliamentary constituencies to align with changes in population, a move that is viewed with suspicion in non-BJP states. Opposition parties have been expressing concerns that Delimitation could disproportionately increase the Parliamentary representation and influence of highly populated BJP-ruled states in North India, while reducing the influence of Southern states.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-mk-stalin-calls-for-black-flag-protest-against-delimitation-1776271518907">Tamil Nadu: MK Stalin calls for black flag protest against delimitation</a>"Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu! Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down! Then, the fire of resistance against Hindi Imposition that rose from Tamil Nadu scorched Delhi. It quietened only after Delhi was forced to yield. Today, I have reignited that fire by burning the copy of this black law and hoisting the black flag against this black law that seeks to turn Tamils into refugees in our own land. This fire will now spread across the Dravidian land. It will rise, it will rage, and it will bring the BJP’s arrogance to its knees," Stalin said in a social media post.In consultation with our DMK MPs, we are reaching out to Members of Parliament across states and devising a coordinated strategy to counter this grave danger. This is not about parties or individuals. It is about protecting the rights of our people. I appeal to all parties and MPs across India to unite to safeguard our democracy, Stalin had said on Wednesday.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/end-of-an-era-start-of-a-reign-samrat-choudhary-takes-oath-as-bihar-chief-minister-bjp-leads-state-for-first-time-1776231212038">Samrat Choudhary takes oath as Bihar CM; BJP leads state for first time</a>Tamil Nadu heads for the polls on April 23rd. In poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the respective ruling parties have expressed concern and questioned the timing of convening Parliament amid a busy poll campaign. The ruling-DMK and its allies are up against the NDA alliance headed by the state's Principal Opposition AIADMK and its ally BJP, among others. Stalin has been portraying the upcoming poll as a battle between "Team Tamil Nadu(DMK) and Team Delhi(BJP)". Citing the latest developments regarding Delimitation, Stalin said that he has been proven right. Non-BJP Chief Ministers from Southern states Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, have also voiced out their serious concerns against Delimitation.

“Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu! Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down!” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin on X.

As the Indian Parliament convenes for a special session to take up the proposed amendment on Delimitation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin continued to express his staunch opposition to Delimitation. He had been citing that Delimitation would be an "injustice against Southern states". On Thursday(April 16th), adorned in a black shirt to register his protest, Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the Delimitation bill, in the presence of party cadre in Namakkal. Stalin has been voicing out against Delimitation and had even convened a meeting of Chief Ministers from Opposition-ruled states that are apprehensive of the impact of Delimitation.

“Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu! Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down!” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin on X.

In protest against Delimitation, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin hoists black flag, burns bill

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday, the eve of the special three-day session to push for implementation of the women’s reservation bill, that the opposition's INDIA bloc has decided to vote against the legislation, citing opposition to the delimitation exercise and calling it ‘politically motivated’.“We all are in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill. But the way in which they have brought it, we have reservations about that. It is politically motivated,” Kharge said at a press conference after a meeting of opposition parties at his residence.&nbsp;During the special three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18, amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, will be brought for implementation in 2029.The Congress said that the extent of damage to parliamentary democracy is “enormous” when the intent behind a bill is “mischievous” and its content “devious”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ran-threatens-shipping-in-persian-gulf-red-sea-and-gulf-of-oman-if-us-naval-blockade-continues-1776256812749">Iran threatens shipping in Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Oman if US naval blockade continues</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We support the Women&#39;s Reservation Bill, but the way this government has brought it is politically motivated. We have consistently supported women&#39;s reservation - in 2010 and again in 2023, when the Constitutional amendment was passed unanimously. Our demand is simple:… <a href="https://t.co/BW4JQC3w6n">pic.twitter.com/BW4JQC3w6n</a>&mdash; Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) <a href="https://twitter.com/kharge/status/2044389320921116846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Lok Sabha seats to go up from 543 to 850</h2> As per the draft bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to up to 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law in 2029, after a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the 2011 Census. Seats would also be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate a 33 per cent reservation for women. The government proposes to delink the reservation from the requirement of a fresh census and subsequent delimitation. It plans to introduce a Delimitation Bill, 2026, to redraw constituency boundaries based on 2011 census data instead of waiting for new population figures. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-all-options-on-table-to-will-fail-iran-us-harden-stance-amid-possible-second-round-of-peace-talks-iran-us-war-updates-1776249974579">'All options on table' to 'will fail': Iran, US harden stance amid possible second round of peace talks</a><h2>‘Playing tricks over delimitation,’ alleges Kharge</h2> Kharge said the parties have “reservations” about the manner in which the bill was introduced. “They are playing some tricks over delimitation. All parties should unite and fight in Parliament. We will oppose this bill, but we are not against reservation (for women),” he said. Under Article 368, the amendment requires a majority of the total membership of the House and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.To pass a constitutional amendment, the government needs a special majority—two-thirds of those present and voting, plus at least 50% of the total house strength. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-us-blockade-sanctioned-iranian-supertanker-crosses-strait-of-hormuz-without-any-concealment-1776248942183">Despite US blockade, sanctioned Iranian supertanker crosses Strait of Hormuz ‘without any concealment': Report</a><h2>NDA Govt lacks needed numbers to pass bill</h2> While the government can pass ordinary bills, it is roughly 70 seats short in the Lok Sabha and 23 seats short in the Rajya Sabha of the two-thirds majority (approx. 364 in LS and 164 in RS) needed for the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.The INDIA bloc accounts for roughly 185 MPs in the Lok Sabha. If they vote together, they can easily prevent the government from reaching the 364-mark.The government could still pass the bills if opposition members abstain or walk out, which would lower the total number of members “present and voting,” thereby reducing the absolute number of votes needed for a two-thirds majority. On Wednesday, the government unveiled three bills, including the Constitution Amendment Bill and the Delimitation Bill, through which the process to carve out new seats and redefine the borders of the existing ones would be carried out. One point of conflict on the issue is the North vs South divide, as North India benefits more with significant population growth while South India gets seats due to lower population growth rate.

As per the draft bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to up to 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law in 2029, after a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the 2011 Census. Seats would also be increased in state and UT assemblies.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday, the eve of the special three-day session to push for implementation of the women’s reservation bill, that the opposition's INDIA bloc has decided to vote against the legislation, citing opposition to the delimitation exercise and calling it ‘politically motivated’. “We all are in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill. But the way in which they have brought it, we have reservations about that. It is politically motivated,” Kharge said at a press conference after a meeting of opposition parties at his residence. During the special three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18, amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, will be brought for implementation in 2029. The Congress said that the extent of damage to parliamentary democracy is “enormous” when the intent behind a bill is “mischievous” and its content “devious”. Also Read: Iran threatens shipping in Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Oman if US naval blockade continues

As per the draft bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to up to 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law in 2029, after a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the 2011 Census. Seats would also be increased in state and UT assemblies.

INDIA Bloc to oppose Women’s Quota Bill over delimitation, says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

The Union government has proposed a significant restructuring of the Lok Sabha, suggesting an increase in the strength of the House from 543 to 850 members. The move is part of The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is expected to be taken up during a special parliamentary session scheduled for April 16–17. According to sources quoted by ANI, 815 seats are proposed for states and 35 for Union Territories, marking one of the most extensive changes to parliamentary representation in decades.&nbsp;The Bill also seeks to amend Article 82, which governs delimitation after each Census. The proposed change would remove the mandatory requirement that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026, effectively allowing constituency readjustment based on pre-2026–27 data. The government has linked the exercise to the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, set for rollout from the 2029 elections under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/noida-protest-wage-hike-rollout-political-blame-game-digital-networks-under-investigation-all-we-know-so-far-1776166153956">Noida protest: Wage hike rollout, political blame game &amp; digital networks under investigation — ALL WE KNOW SO FAR</a>&nbsp;<h2>Women’s reservation and political consensus push</h2> Addressing a public rally in Dehradun , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the long-awaited implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which ensures 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, should be carried out before 2029, calling it the "sentiment of the nation" and the ‘desire of Nari Shakti.’ PM Modi also urged political parties to support the proposed constitutional changes, stressing early implementation of women’s reservation. He also called for a consensus, stating, “Let all political parties come together and advance this work concerning the rights of the country’s sisters and daughters.”&nbsp;Under the existing constitutional framework, delimitation after the next Census was already mandated under the 106th Amendment Act, 2023, which links women’s reservation to constituency readjustment. The new proposal, however, seeks to alter the timing and basis of delimitation, potentially accelerating the process ahead of the next general elections.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/delhi-dehradun-expressway-inaugurated-213-km-corridor-rs-12-000-crore-cost-travel-time-reduced-to-2-5-hours-1776169910072">Delhi–Dehradun expressway inaugurated: 213 km corridor, Rs.12,000 crore cost, travel time reduced to 2.5 hours</a>&nbsp;<h2>Opposition concerns over federal balance and representation</h2> The proposal has triggered political concern, particularly from opposition-ruled states, which argue that changes in delimitation could affect the balance of representation between northern and southern states. Critics have alleged that the move may reduce parliamentary representation for states with lower population growth.&nbsp;Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has warned against what he described as attempts to ‘bulldoze’ constitutional amendments without adequate consultation. He said Tamil Nadu would launch protests if southern states’ interests are harmed, underscoring growing federal tensions around the proposed restructuring of India’s parliamentary map.

The Bill also seeks to amend Article 82, which governs delimitation after each Census. The proposed change would remove the mandatory requirement that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026, effectively allowing constituency readjustment based on pre-2026–27 data.

The Union government has proposed a significant restructuring of the Lok Sabha, suggesting an increase in the strength of the House from 543 to 850 members. The move is part of The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is expected to be taken up during a special parliamentary session scheduled for April 16–17. According to sources quoted by ANI, 815 seats are proposed for states and 35 for Union Territories, marking one of the most extensive changes to parliamentary representation in decades. The Bill also seeks to amend Article 82, which governs delimitation after each Census. The proposed change would remove the mandatory requirement that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026, effectively allowing constituency readjustment based on pre-2026–27 data. The government has linked the exercise to the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, set for rollout from the 2029 elections under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. ALSO READ: Noida protest: Wage hike rollout, political blame game & digital networks under investigation — ALL WE KNOW SO FAR Women’s reservation and political consensus push Addressing a public rally in Dehradun , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the long-awaited implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which ensures 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, should be carried out before 2029, calling it the "sentiment of the nation" and the ‘desire of Nari Shakti.’ PM Modi also urged political parties to support the proposed constitutional changes, stressing early implementation of women’s reservation. He also called for a consensus, stating, “Let all political parties come together and advance this work concerning the rights of the country’s sisters and daughters.” Under the existing constitutional framework, delimitation after the next Census was already mandated under the 106th Amendment Act, 2023, which links women’s reservation to constituency readjustment. The new proposal, however, seeks to alter the timing and basis of delimitation, potentially accelerating the process ahead of the next general elections. ALSO READ: Delhi–Dehradun expressway inaugurated: 213 km corridor, Rs.12,000 crore cost, travel time reduced to 2.5 hours Opposition concerns over federal balance and representation The proposal has triggered political concern, particularly from opposition-ruled states, which argue that changes in delimitation could affect the balance of representation between northern and southern states. Critics have alleged that the move may reduce parliamentary representation for states with lower population growth. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has warned against what he described as attempts to ‘bulldoze’ constitutional amendments without adequate consultation. He said Tamil Nadu would launch protests if southern states’ interests are harmed, underscoring growing federal tensions around the proposed restructuring of India’s parliamentary map.

The Bill also seeks to amend Article 82, which governs delimitation after each Census. The proposed change would remove the mandatory requirement that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026, effectively allowing constituency readjustment based on pre-2026–27 data.

Lok Sabha seats to expand to 850 from 543, govt proposes constitutional amendment

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