PM Narendra Modi Urges MPs to Back Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha
Prime Minister appeals to all parties to support 33 percent quota for women, as voting set after intense debate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Members of Parliament to support the Women’s Reservation Bill, urging them to consider the aspirations of millions of women across the country. His appeal comes ahead of a crucial vote in the Lok Sabha following an extended and heated debate.
In a message shared on X, the Prime Minister said that concerns and misunderstandings surrounding the Bill have been addressed. He stated that all doubts raised by members were clarified and that the government had provided complete information to ensure informed decision making.
Modi emphasized that the Bill represents the hopes of the nation’s women and urged political parties to act with sensitivity. He appealed to MPs to vote in favour of the proposal, saying no decision should hurt the sentiments of “Nari Shakti.”
The proposed law, officially known as the Constitution One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The Lok Sabha is expected to vote on the Bill at 4 pm after a marathon discussion that began a day earlier.
However, the Bill has sparked political disagreement. Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress and supported by several regional groups, have raised concerns over linking the reservation to a future delimitation exercise. They argue that the process of redrawing constituencies could be unfair, particularly for southern states, and have accused the government of using the women’s quota issue to push a broader political agenda.
The government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its NDA allies, does not have the two thirds majority required to pass the constitutional amendment on its own, making support from other parties crucial.
Alongside this Bill, the House is also considering related legislation, including amendments to extend similar provisions to Union Territories like Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as a delimitation proposal that could increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats to 850.
The outcome of the vote is expected to have a significant impact on the future of women’s political representation in India.