Blocking Women’s Reservation Bill Denies a Historic Opportunity: AP Chief Minister

In a major setback to women’s political representation, the Women’s Reservation Bill ( Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam ) was rejected in the Lok Sabha after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority . The proposed constitutional amendment aimed to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in state legislative assemblies.

Out of 528 members who voted, 298 supported the bill well short of the 352 votes needed leading to its defeat and triggering sharp political reactions across the country.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu termed the outcome a “historic opportunity lost,” stating that the bill’s failure denied women long-awaited representation. He also raised concerns over delimitation , warning that population-based seat redistribution could disadvantage southern, northeastern, and smaller states.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan described the development as a missed opportunity to strengthen women’s participation in governance and inspire broader societal change.

YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy linked the bill’s rejection to concerns over delimitation, noting that uncertainty around its impact on southern states may have influenced the outcome.

Congress leader Y.S. Sharmila blamed the central government, arguing that linking women’s reservation with delimitation reflected a flawed political approach that ultimately failed.

Meanwhile, BJP state president PVN Madhav accused the Congress of acting against women’s interests and said the party would face public accountability.

The bill’s rejection has intensified the debate on women’s reservation and delimitation, further heating up the political landscape.