Dubbing the delimitation formula in the bill as unilateral and introduced in the middle of an election campaign, the Opposition said it was against federalism and the interests of several states, particularly in the South. However, the leaders struck a politically correct tone, saying they are committed to support one-third reservation for women based on the current strength of Lok Sabha, as per the 2023 Act, from the 2029 general elections.
After the meeting, Opposition leaders said once they vote against and defeat the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha – which requires a two-thirds majority for passage – the two associated legislations – the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 – would become infructuous.
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Yet, the political play during the three-day special sitting of Parliament, particularly contents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Thursday, will be closely watched, as the government is short of around 70 votes in the Lok Sabha to ensure the required two-thirds backing.
“We are all in favour of the women’s reservation bill. But the way in which they have brought it raises concerns. It is politically motivated. The government is doing this just to suppress the Opposition parties. We have consistently supported women’s reservation, but we insist that the earlier (2023) amendments be implemented. The government is playing tricks through delimitation. We should unitedly fight against it in Parliament. We are not against women reservation, but the way in which they have brought the bill, with delimitation and without even clearing census. All powers of the Constitution are being taken by the executive,” said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the meeting.
Samajwadi Party‘s Akhilesh Yadav said in a social media post, “We are in favor of women’s reservation, but against that BJP cunning ploy, which is being carried out under a conspiracy. BJP and their allies are sitting tight-lipped about the women of the country’s largest population segment, meaning the ‘backward classes’. The haste they’re showing in the name of this amendment is actually driven by BJP’s intent to avoid a census, because if a census happens, they’ll have to provide caste-wise data too, and caste-wise reservations as well.”
ANTI-Delimitation FRONT
RSP MP NK Premachandran said, “This is actually a delimitation bill under the garb of women’s reservation. While we, the Opposition, are fully standing by the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act, we will unitedly oppose the delimitation bill, which is anti-federal and against the interests of many states, especially the South.”
DMK leader TR Baalu said that “the proposed delimitation in the bill will hit the southern states”.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said while the Opposition parties support one-third reservation for women based on the current strength of the Lok Sabha, they remain completely opposed to the delimitation provisions in the bill.
