New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) On Saturday, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, shared a video showcasing protests in Sikkim that underline the public's backing for the Women’s Reservation Bill while vehemently criticizing the Opposition following its failure in the Lok Sabha.

He remarked, “This serves as a significant warning to the Congress Party. Witness the overwhelming support for the Women's reservation in both Parliament and Assemblies from the beautiful and small state of Sikkim!!”

This reaction came after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 did not achieve the necessary two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, despite having majority support. The Bill aimed to provide a 33 percent reservation for women in both Parliament and state Assemblies and was rejected in a closely monitored vote, sparking intense political debate between the ruling party and the Opposition.

The NDA has accused the INDIA coalition of intentionally obstructing a landmark reform aimed at enhancing women's representation in legislative assemblies.

On the other hand, the Opposition is challenging the connection of the women’s reservation Bill to the expansion of Parliament based on the 2011 Census and the delimitation process.

In a follow-up post, Rijiju reaffirmed the government's dedication to this reform, stating, “We will persist in our efforts for the women of India! The Opposition failed to support this historic Bill that honors women. Under the leadership of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, our government will relentlessly work for the respect of women.”

The Bill garnered 298 votes in favor and 230 against in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the two-thirds majority constitutionally required for a constitutional amendment.

In addition to the reservation provision, the legislation proposed increasing the Lok Sabha's strength from 543 to 850 seats, tied to a long-awaited delimitation process designed to redraw constituencies based on population shifts since the 1971 Census.

While the government defended the Bill as a necessary corrective measure to address representation imbalances and fulfill long-overdue women’s reservation, Opposition parties contended that it was linked to political redistribution that could favor certain regions while disadvantaging others. They also raised alarms regarding federal balance and electoral fairness.

The Bill’s rejection has deepened the political rift, with the government accusing the Opposition of obstructing a historic reform while the Opposition questions the intent and timing of the legislation.