A united opposition has defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Friday, April 17, 2026. The Bill aimed to change the distribution of Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census and was linked to the implementation of women’s reservation.
During the voting, 298 members supported the Bill, while 230 voted against it. Out of 528 members present, the Bill needed at least 352 votes to pass, which is a two-thirds majority. Since it did not reach this number, the Bill was defeated.
After this result, the government decided to withdraw two related proposals—the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026.
Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the outcome and called it a victory for democracy, the Constitution, and federal values in India. He thanked opposition leaders for standing together and working as a united group.
Overall, the result shows the importance of unity among opposition parties and highlights how major constitutional changes require strong support in Parliament to be passed.