Parliament LIVE | No two-thirds majority: Women's Quota Amendment Bill fails in LS

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday (April 17) asserted that the proposed delimitation bill will be defeated in Parliament.

Addressing reporters in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, he said, "Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, M K Stalin, and Akhilesh Yadav will ensure its defeat," and added that the bill cannot be passed if all opposition leaders unite.

Describing the projected increase of Tamil Nadu's representation in the Lok Sabha from 39 to 59 due to the constitutional amendment bill as an "illusion", the former union minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were presenting "half-truths" on seat increase.

According to him, the INDIA bloc parties, including Congress, TMC, SP, and CPI, have opposed the bill in Parliament. At present, 180 members oppose the bill, and the number is expected to increase to 190 votes.

He warned that future seat allocation based on population could reduce TN's representation from 59 to 46 or 47 seats, depending on whether the 2011 or 2026 census is used.

YSRCP leaders V Rajini and P Pushpa Sreevani on Friday (April 17) said the party fully supports the Women’s Reservation Bill, describing it as a “historic step that will transform the political landscape of the country” by ensuring 33 per cent representation for women in legislative bodies.

Addressing separate press conferences, the two former ministers expressed confidence that the bill will significantly enhance women’s participation in governance and decision-making.

According to the opposition leaders, YSRCP supremo and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had already set a “national benchmark” by implementing 50 per cent reservation for women during his tenure.

The DMK has raised strong objections to the Centre’s reported move to delink the Constitution Amendment Bill from the Delimitation exercise, warning that such a step could have far-reaching political consequences, particularly for southern states.

Speaking to The Federal, DMK spokesperson Saravanan alleged that the Centre’s approach reflects a “sinister motive” aimed at pushing through delimitation while using the women’s reservation plank as political cover.

Saravanan argued that the earlier framework, where women’s reservation would come into effect after the next Census and subsequent delimitation, was acceptable to the opposition. However, he claimed the current move attempts to “fast-track” delimitation in a way that could disadvantage states like Tamil Nadu that have successfully implemented population control measures.

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The Centre on Friday (April 17) notified the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act 2023, which provides a 33 per cent quota for women in legislatures, Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territories (UTs).

In a notification issued for Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said," In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Act, 2023 (38 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 17th day of April, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force." The Ministry also issued another notification for Union Territories (UTs) implementing the Act.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 2023 (39 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 17th day of April, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force," it said.

Union minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Friday (April 17) described the DMK's arguments against bills to tweak the women-quota law as "fear mongering" and said they do not represent the views of the southern states.

The DMK, which is in power in Tamil Nadu, has been vehemently opposing the bills and has raised concerns that they would adversely impact the southern states.

During a discussion on the bills in the Lok Sabha, Kumaraswamy, who has been the chief minister of Karnataka twice, said the Congress is not prepared to handle the massive change and that the party has lost touch with people and does not know how to cope with this transformation.

Terming the DMK's arguments "fear mongering", the heavy industries minister said those represent the party's own views and not those of the southern states.

"The Congress, which has lost the capacity to think independently, lost its ability to develop its own arguments is now being led by the DMK's narrative," he alleged, adding that the Opposition under the Congress has got into the habit of scaring people and creating a doomsday scenario about everything the government says.

BJP MP Hema Malini on Friday (April 17) said the women's quota bill will usher in a new era, which will ensure equality and empowerment of women.

Participating in a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the amendment to the women's quota law of 2023, the actor-politician also said that there is a need to change the "thinking" of society along with the law to ensure that women get respect in families and society.

"The bill is an honour to the struggle, courage and strength of women. It would ensure that women can become partners in decision-making and realise their dreams. The bill will usher in a new era of respect, equality and empowerment," said the BJP MP from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

"Women have been empowering their families and communities without any sense of identity. This women's quota bill provides them an opportunity. This step is meant to give courage and confidence to the daughters of future generations to become partners in decision-making," Hema Malini said.

Rahul Gandhi continued his remarks in the Lok Sabha, alleging that the previous session was disrupted due to a deal signed by the Prime Minister that, he claimed, compromised national interest.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla repeatedly intervened, disallowing such references and directing Rahul to confine his speech to the subject under discussion.

Despite the interruptions, Rahul accused the government of attempting to take away the constitutional rights of citizens and asserted that the Opposition would ensure the Bill is defeated.

He also took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s recent speech, describing it as lacking energy and engagement, and made an oblique reference to April 16, suggesting there was a “puzzle” linked to the date before ending his speech.

Kiren Rijiju cited the glossary of unparliamentary expressions and stated that referring to a member as a ‘magician’ was unparliamentary.

Rahul Gandhi, however, continued his attack, accusing the BJP and its leadership of conflating themselves with the nation and the armed forces, and urged them not to “hide behind” the military.

As Rahul again used the term - Magician, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened, saying he would not allow such language in the House and warned that Rahul would be permitted to continue only if he confined his remarks to the subject under discussion.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have triggered strong protests from the treasury benches, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju leading the charge and accusing him of using “unparliamentary language” against the Prime Minister.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also intervened, terming the remarks “condemnable” and saying that repeatedly referring to the Prime Minister in such terms was not just an insult to him but to the people who elected him. He demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and called for his comments to be expunged from the record.

Rijiju further alleged that Rahul’s remarks amounted to mocking the Balakot strikes and Operation Sindoor, calling it an insult to the armed forces.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed strong objection to the language used and ordered that the contentious references be expunged from the House records.