PM Modi to Address Nation Tonight Amid Row Over Women’s Reservation Bill

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation at 8:30 pm tonight, a day after the Women’s Reservation Bill was blocked in the Lok Sabha.

The announcement has sparked widespread attention, although no official details have been shared about the focus of his address. The speech is expected to come against the backdrop of heightened political activity in Parliament.

The proposed legislation, formally known as the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, aimed to reserve seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies starting from 2029. It also included provisions to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha.

However, the Bill failed to secure the required two thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments. Out of 528 members who participated in the voting, 298 supported the proposal while 230 opposed it. The measure required at least 352 votes to pass.

Following the setback, the government also urged Om Birla not to proceed with two other key legislations. These included the Delimitation Bill 2026 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2026.

The proposed changes under the amendment had suggested increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to a possible 850. This expansion was intended to facilitate the implementation of women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections.

With the Bill failing to pass, the issue of women’s representation in legislatures remains unresolved for now, even as the Prime Minister prepares to address the nation later tonight.