Kiren Rijiju says failure of Lok Sabha expansion bill is a setback for women, not the government
April 18, 2026: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the failure of the constitutional amendment bill to expand the Lok Sabha should not be seen as a setback for the government, but as a loss for women. He stated that the proposed legislation aimed to fast-track 33% reservation for women, and its defeat denied them greater participation in decision-making. Rijiju added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also indicated during a Cabinet meeting that the Opposition would have to answer for blocking women’s rights.
A day after the bill failed to secure the required majority in Parliament, the minister intensified his criticism of the Opposition, particularly targeting the Indian National Congress. He alleged that the party was “celebrating women’s defeat” and accused it of having an anti-women mindset. According to Rijiju, the Congress would face public anger, especially from women voters, over its stance on the bill.
Responding to Opposition claims that the government was attempting to alter the federal structure through delimitation, Rijiju defended the proposal, saying increasing Lok Sabha seats would maintain proportional representation. He also rejected allegations of inadequate consultation, asserting that he had personally reached out to multiple party leaders. The minister claimed that while some parties engaged in discussions, Congress avoided meetings and discouraged others from participating, leading to a breakdown in consensus over the legislation.