Intro: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju blamed Opposition parties for defeat of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament vote

New Delhi

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, was not a setback for the Centre but a major loss caused by Congress and its allies. He stated that the Bill, which aimed to provide 33 per cent reservation for women, could not pass due to lack of Opposition support.

The Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, receiving 278 votes in favour and 211 against after a full-day debate. Following this, the government decided not to proceed with related delimitation proposals.

Rijiju expressed disappointment, saying the defeat was a loss for women across the country. He accused Congress and other Opposition parties of blocking an important reform that would have increased women’s representation in Parliament and state assemblies. He added that such actions could invite public anger, especially from women.

Criticising the Opposition further, Rijiju said celebrating the Bill’s failure showed an anti-women mindset. He maintained that the government had made all possible efforts to pass the legislation through discussions and meetings with various parties. However, he claimed that Congress leaders did not actively participate in these discussions and instead raised objections later.

The Minister also said the government followed democratic procedures and could not force any party to support the Bill. He stressed that voting was conducted fairly in Parliament.

Speaking about the Budget Session, Rijiju described it as productive and highlighted progress in addressing major national challenges like extremism and security issues. He said improvements in Kashmir, the Northeast and central India reflected government efforts.

Despite these achievements, he admitted that the failure to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill remained disappointing. He assured that the government would continue working towards empowering women and try again in the future.