Opposition floor leaders are scheduled to convene at Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber in the Parliament Complex at 10 A.M. on Saturday. Notably, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will be absent from the meeting as he is slated to travel to Tamil Nadu for election campaigning.
The meeting follows the recent defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill, which aimed to introduce 33% reservation for women in Parliament and increase the House’s strength, fell short of the required two-thirds majority, sparking a political clash between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Despite a day-long debate, the proposed legislation failed to garner the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority, receiving 278 votes in favor and 211 against. This outcome has intensified the political standoff, with the NDA accusing the INDIA bloc of obstructing a significant reform for enhancing women’s representation in legislative bodies.
The Opposition has raised objections to linking the women’s reservation Bill with the Parliament’s expansion based on the 2011 Census and delimitation exercises. In response to the defeat of the Bill, the ruling NDA held a crucial meeting where it was decided to address the Opposition’s opposition to women’s empowerment through nationwide protests, press conferences, and social media outreach.
The NDA is gearing up for a nationwide protest campaign against the INDIA bloc, with demonstrations planned at district headquarters led by the BJP’s women’s wing, the BJP Mahila Morcha. This campaign aims to spotlight what the NDA terms as the Opposition’s “anti-women agenda” and rally public support around the issue, with a focus on the upcoming elections, particularly in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
