New Delhi, 18 April (H.S.):

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday, formally closing the Budget session that commenced in January and marked by intense political debate over finance, governance, and a high‑stakes constitutional initiative. The gavel fell at 11 a.m., when Speaker Om Birla delivered his concluding remarks and brought the session to an indefinite close.

The final day of the House coincided with the aftermath of a dramatic legislative setback: a Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026—seeking to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029 through an increase in the Lower House’s strength from 543 to 816 seats—was defeated by a division of votes. The failure of the bill, which required a two‑thirds majority, cast a long shadow over the closing hours of the session, turning what was billed as a milestone for gender representation into a focal point of political recrimination.

In his valedictory address, Speaker Birla lauded the session’s productivity, citing the passage of key financial and welfare measures, while also acknowledging the sharp polarisation that accompanied the women’s reservation debate. With the House now adjourned sine die, attention shifts to the next parliamentary session, where the fate of the stalled women’s quota proposal and broader legislative priorities will likely remain at the centre of political contestation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar