Chandrababu Naidu Targets Opposition Over Bill Defeat
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday launched a national-level campaign against Opposition parties after the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill was linked to the implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies from the 2029 elections, but it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment.
Chandrababu Naidu On Women’s Reservation Bill
Naidu said the defeat of the bill was a setback to women’s political empowerment and accused Opposition parties of blocking a major reform. He framed the issue as one that went beyond party politics, arguing that greater representation for women in legislatures should have received wider support across the political spectrum.
Constitution Amendment Bill Defeat In Lok Sabha
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced as part of a broader legislative plan connected to delimitation and representation changes. It sought to create the framework needed for implementing women’s reservation in legislatures after seat restructuring. Although the bill received a majority of votes in the Lok Sabha, it fell short of the special majority required for passage.
Opposition Delimitation Concerns And Political Fallout
Opposition parties maintained that their objection was not to women’s reservation itself, but to the bill’s link with delimitation and parliamentary expansion. Critics argued that constituency redrawing could alter the political balance between States, making delimitation the real point of conflict. The bill’s defeat has now widened the political battle, with Naidu and other ruling alliance leaders using the result to target Opposition parties ahead of future elections.
