Women's Reservation Bill Defeated in Lok Sabha Vote
The third day of Parliament's special session commenced at 11 am today, marked by a significant legislative setback for the ruling coalition. The Constitution amendment bill aimed at implementing a 33 per cent women's quota in legislatures through delimitation was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
NDA Falls Short of Required Majority
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority required for passing the constitutional amendment. The ruling coalition managed to gather 298 votes in favor of the bill, falling short by 54 votes of the required 352 votes. The Opposition bloc secured 230 votes against the legislation.
Political Reactions and Constitutional Implications
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi declared that the INDIA bloc has successfully "defeated an attack on the constitution." The bill's defeat represents a major political development during this special parliamentary session, highlighting the challenges of achieving consensus on constitutional amendments.
The proposed legislation sought to accelerate the implementation of women's reservation in legislative bodies through delimitation processes. Its failure in the Lok Sabha means the constitutional amendment cannot proceed without significant political realignment and broader parliamentary support.
