After the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 could not be passed in the special session of the Lok Sabha, the political turmoil over women's reservation has intensified. Both the ruling party and the opposition are making fierce statements regarding this. Meanwhile, the statement of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has come to light. She has demanded the Central Government to re-introduce the old Women's Reservation Bill, which had earlier received wide support from all parties.
Speaking to the media before the last day of the special session on Saturday (April 18), Priyanka Gandhi said that the central government should bring the old bill related to women on Monday (April 20) itself, which was passed by all parties. He said, 'Convene Parliament on Monday, bring a bill and see who is anti-women. We all will vote for you and support you.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in Lok Sabha, Congress President MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, “They (Centre) should bring the old women's bill, the one which was passed by all parties, immediately on Monday. Hold Parliament on Monday, pic.twitter.com/FTlcWXbkpK
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2026
Meanwhile, quoting sources, there is news that the opposition will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding implementation of the old women's reservation bill. It is being told that this decision has been taken in the meeting of India Alliance. During this, all the leaders congratulated each other, Sonia Gandhi expressed her gratitude to all the colleagues. Sources say that the parties involved in the India alliance will hold press conferences across the country and will tell that the opposition is in favor of women's reservation but the government was trying to change the political map of the country under the guise of this. Priyanka Gandhi will hold a press conference today at 12 o'clock.
The statement of the Congress MP has come at a time when the conflict between the government and the opposition on this issue is at its peak. Earlier on Friday (April 17), Priyanka Gandhi had shared a post on social media saying, 'Reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies is the right of the women of this country, and no one can deprive them of it. One day this will definitely turn into reality. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hollow attempt to present himself as the messiah of women by linking it to the 2011 census and the delimitations based on it has failed today.
Women's reservation in Parliament and Assemblies is a right of the women of this country which no one can stop them from getting. One day it will become reality.
But by maliciously linking it with the 2011 census and the delimitation based on it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hollow claim of being the messiah of women is being refuted.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 17, 2026
Further, he said, 'Today the country's opposition has demonstrated its resolve and unity to protect India's democracy and its integrity. Today will be considered a historic day in Indian politics. From today onwards the efforts to suppress the voice of this country end. I thank all the opposition MPs wholeheartedly because we all know that if these three bills were not passed, democracy would have ceased to exist in our country. By using our power properly, we have kept this country above politics and performed our duty in the national interest.
In fact, on Friday (April 17), the government could not get the 131st amendment bill of the Constitution related to the Women's Reservation Bill passed in the Lok Sabha. There was a provision to increase the 543 seats of Parliament to 850. Voting took place after 21 hours of discussion on the bill in the Lok Sabha. 528 MPs present cast their votes. 298 votes were cast in favor and 230 against. Two-thirds majority was required to pass the bill. Two thirds of 528 is 352. In this way the bill failed by 54 votes.
