Kochi: The Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill was defeated for not securing the required two-thirds majority.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described it as a missed opportunity for consensus on an important reform. The Union government announced its unwillingness to move ahead with two related Bills.
Taking part in the debate, Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of depriving people of delimitation when it was in power, and it is still doing the same.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha said the Constitution Amendment Bill has nothing to do with women’s reservation. He accused the government of using it to alter the country’s electoral map by taking away representation from southern, northeastern and smaller States.
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