Centre Introduces Key Bills on Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Amid Opposition Protests

A major political confrontation unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Thursday as Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah introduced three crucial bills aimed at amending the women’s reservation law and establishing a delimitation commission. The move triggered strong protests from Opposition parties, who termed the proposed legislations “anti-constitutional” and raised concerns over their timing and intent. Congress leader K. C. Venugopal questioned why these amendments were not incorporated when the women’s quota bill was originally passed by Parliament. He reiterated that the current proposals undermine constitutional principles. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while expressing support for women’s reservation, questioned the urgency behind introducing the bills. He also raised concerns about the absence of an updated Census, asking why the government is proceeding without it. Responding to the criticism, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Census is scheduled for 2027 and confirmed that caste enumeration will also be conducted. However, he firmly maintained that reservation based on religion remains unconstitutional. According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, the number of Lok Sabha seats is proposed to be increased from 543 to a maximum of 850. This expansion aims to operationalise the women’s reservation law ahead of the 2029 general elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. The proposal also includes increasing seats in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate a 33% reservation for women. Additionally, seats reserved for women in both Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies will be allocated on a rotational basis across constituencies. Meanwhile, several Opposition parties have decided to collectively oppose the delimitation provisions of the bill, even as they reaffirm their support for women’s reservation in legislative bodies. The developments signal a significant legislative push by the Centre, while also setting the stage for an intense political debate in the run-up to the 2029 elections.