Women's Reservation Bill: Opposing Political Opinions Explained

By: WE staff

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, MP & Indian National Congress leader

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has severely criticized the Constitution Bill, 2026, claiming that the proposal of the government goes beyond the proclaimed  purpose of securing women reservation.

Although reaffirming the Opposition’s support in principle of one-third reservation of women in Parliament and state Assemblies, he argued that the existing framework makes it problematic to link this reform to the delimitation exercise, in a way that is highly controversial and masks political motives.

"We will not allow ‘HissaChori’ from OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities by ignoring the caste census data. We will also not allow Southern, North Eastern, North Western and smaller states to be treated unfairly,” opined Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the restructuring of constituencies as well as the increase in Lok Sabha size, has the potential to introduce manipulation of electoral boundaries, terming it an attempt to engage in a power grab and gerrymandering.

Leaders of Congress also argued that they are still loyal to the concept of women reservation, but they are against the approach used to execute it, which they called a flawed and politically motivated idea. This opinion challenged the Bill in Parliament.

Following the failing the floor test, Rahul Gandi took to X and said, “The amendment bill has fallen. They used an unconstitutional trick to break the Constitution in the name of women. India has seen it. INDIA has stopped it.”

Mallikarjun Kharge (President of the Indian National Congress)

Mallikarjun Kharge has stated that the Opposition including the INDIA bloc does not oppose the principle of women reservation but bitterly complains of the way the  government has brought about the bill. He stressed that over the years his party has strongly believed in women reservation, but the present system does not seem genuinely focused on it and aims at weakening the Opposition parties.

"We are continuously supporting women's reservation. We are insisting that an earlier amendment that was passed be implemented. BJP Government playing tricks with delimitation. Therefore, all parties have taken a decision unitedly to oppose this bill."

Mallikarjun Kharge expressed grave concerns regarding the connection of the bill with delimitation, especially where a new census had not been conducted in recent years and suggested that it would give the executive the opportunity to draw constituency boundaries arbitrarily. This, he cautioned, erodes constitutional institutions and parliamentary oversight. Drawing on past experiences from Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, he raised questions about the credibility of the government. Emphasizing Continuity of Opposition, Mallikarjun declared that the parties would, in unison, oppose delimination part, yet would continue supporting women reservation bill, insisting it be taken up immediately without undue procrastination.