Itanagar, April 28:
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein expressed strong reactions after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies failed to pass in Parliament.
The bill secured 298 votes in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the 352 votes required for a constitutional amendment, leading to its rejection.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu directly blamed opposition parties for the outcome, stating that their obstruction of the amendment undermines the aspirations of crores of Indian women. He asserted that denying women adequate representation in legislative bodies goes against the spirit of inclusive development and warned that the response from India’s “Nari Shakti” would be “loud, decisive and unforgiving.”
In contrast, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein stopped short of naming any political party but termed the development a “deeply disappointing moment for democracy.” He described the bill’s failure as not just a legislative setback, but a blow to the hopes of millions of women seeking greater empowerment and participation in governance.
Mein emphasised that at a time when the nation highlights women as a driving force of progress, such outcomes create barriers to their advancement. He noted that the development has triggered concern and emotional response among women across the country, as delays in implementing reservation directly affect their participation in decision-making spaces.
Calling for a constructive way forward, Mein urged all stakeholders to rise above political differences and ensure that women’s dignity, rights, and aspirations are protected. He stressed that the democratic process must reinforce, rather than delay, women’s role in shaping the nation’s future.
The bill’s failure comes amid a broader political deadlock over the Centre’s proposal to link women’s reservation with a nationwide delimitation exercise, including plans to expand the Lok Sabha to 850 seats. Opposition parties resisted the move, citing concerns over population-based seat redistribution and its potential regional impact, particularly on southern states.
With the delimitation-linked proposal withdrawn, uncertainty now surrounds the timeline for implementing women’s reservation under the existing Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, keeping the issue at the centre of national political debate.
