NEW DELHI (AP) 鈥� A bill to reserve failed to pass in the lower house of India’s Parliament on Friday, along with a separate, linked proposal to expand the national legislature by redrawing voting boundaries.
The measure was seen as one of the most significant changes to India鈥檚 political system since independence from British colonial rule in 1947, but fell short after two days of debate involving both government and opposition lawmakers. It sought to mandate implementation of 33% representation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, a move aimed at increasing female participation in a system where women remain underrepresented.
However, the quota was tied to a contentious plan to redraw voting boundaries across India, which became a major sticking point. While there was broad cross-party support for increasing women鈥檚 representation, opposition parties warned that redrawing voting boundaries and expanding the size of Parliament could shift the political balance in favor of Prime Minister 鈥檚 ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Both bills were introduced by Modi鈥檚 government during a three-day special session of Parliament that began Thursday and required approval by two-thirds of lawmakers. The legislation tied to the women鈥檚 quota fell short of that threshold, and the government later withdrew the delimitation proposal.
The delimitation exercise, if passed, would have increased the number of seats in the lower house from 543 to about 850 by 鈥媡he time of the 鈦爊ext parliamentary elections due in 2029.
Major opposition groups had resisted the bill, warning that basing constituencies on population data taken from the 2011 census could shift political power toward faster-growing northern states while reducing the representation, seat share, and influence of southern regions. They also argued the changes could benefit Modi鈥檚 party, which enjoys strong support in the north.
The government rejected these concerns, saying the plan would include a uniform 50% increase in seats across all states to preserve proportional representation nationwide. However, critics noted that the draft legislation did not explicitly guarantee this.
Hours before the bills were set to be taken up for a vote, Modi said on X that the government had addressed all concerns and 鈥渕isconceptions surrounding the legislation with facts and logic.鈥�
But opposition leaders remained unconvinced. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party described the move as 鈥渁n attempt to change the electoral map of India.鈥�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
