The Centre on Thursday introduced three key bills in the Lok Sabha to operationalise women’s reservation in legislatures and initiate the next delimitation exercise, even as the Opposition staged strong protests, terming the move “anti-constitutional”.
The legislation includes the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the special session of Parliament from April 16 to 18.
The Bill on Union Territories seeks to extend the women’s reservation framework to Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the introduction of the bills, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved 15–18 hours of debate on the proposals, with voting scheduled for 4 pm on Friday.
Lok Sabha to expand to 850 seats
Earlier, the government had circulated the draft of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to a maximum of 850 seats, alongside implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
According to the proposal, 272 seats would be reserved for women in the Lok Sabha. The delimitation exercise is expected to be based on the 2011 Census, ahead of the 2029 general elections.
The draft also proposes a corresponding increase in the number of seats in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate the reservation framework.
Delimitation has emerged as a key political flashpoint, with Opposition parties arguing that the exercise could alter the balance of representation between northern and southern states.
Congress leader K C Venugopal called the bills “anti-constitutional”, while Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also raised objections in the House.
Opposition members maintained that the proposals could impact federal balance and regional representation.
Also read: LS seat delimitation process ‘sinister agenda’, says Mamata
Govt rejects Opposition charge
Responding to the criticism, Home Minister Amit Shah said the government is already conducting the census process along with caste enumeration and rejected allegations that the exercise was unconstitutional.
He also dismissed concerns over religion-based reservation, asserting that constitutional provisions do not permit such categorisation.
No state will lose representation, PM assures
During the debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the House that no state, north or south, east or west, would face discrimination in the delimitation process.
He said the proportion of Lok Sabha seats of any state would not be reduced and that increases would be made proportionately.
“There will be no change in that proportion, and the increase will also be in the same proportion,” he said.
The Prime Minister said women’s reservation is a constitutional right and not a political favour, urging all parties to support the legislation in the national interest.
He cautioned against further delay in implementing the long-pending reform, stressing that the process must move forward without postponement.
According to the government proposal, the total strength of the Lok Sabha will be expanded to 815, with 272 seats earmarked for women, ensuring 33 per cent representation.
The debate on the three bills continued in the House amid sharp exchanges between Treasury and Opposition benches.
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