New Delhi: The debate on the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill is set to conclude today in the Lok Sabha, with voting scheduled for 4 PM. The government has agreed to a 12-hour discussion, which may be extended up to 15–18 hours if required, as indicated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
For the Constitution Amendment Bill to pass, it requires a two-thirds majority in the House. This means the Centre needs the support of at least 360 MPs. However, the ruling NDA currently has 293 members, leaving it short by 67 votes.
The debate on the bill continued late into the night, stretching till 1 AM. Opposition parties have demanded that the implementation of women’s reservation should not be linked to the delimitation process. They argue that tying the bill to constituency reorganization is an attempt by the Centre to retain power through indirect means.
Leaders like Francis George have strongly criticized the move, accusing the government and the BJP of pursuing political advantage through the bill.
The opposition remains firm in its stance, insisting that one-third of the total 543 seats in the Lok Sabha should be reserved for women without conditions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the opposition of obstructing efforts to ensure women’s empowerment by raising technical objections.
