Narendra Modi set to speak after women’s reservation bill fails in Lok Sabha
April 18, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8:30 PM on Saturday, a day after a key constitutional amendment bill on women’s reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. The address is expected to focus on the implementation of the women’s quota and recent parliamentary developments, where opposition parties voted against the proposal.
The bill sought to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to enable 33% reservation for women ahead of the 2029 elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. However, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority, securing 298 votes in favour and 230 against, out of 528 members present. The ruling BJP-led alliance was unable to gather the necessary 352 votes to pass the legislation.
The development has triggered sharp political reactions, with Mamata Banerjee criticising the Prime Minister ahead of his address, alleging that it would present a “web of falsehoods.” The failure of the bill and the ensuing political confrontation have intensified the debate over women’s reservation and electoral reforms, making the Prime Minister’s speech highly anticipated.