New Delhi, 18 April (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8:30 pm, a day after the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill—intended to implement 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and state legislatures—was rejected in the Lok Sabha for lack of a two‑thirds majority.

The broadcast is expected to cover the bill’s failure, the government’s stance on women’s political representation, and the government’s critique of opposition parties for blocking the proposal.

The Constitution Amendment Bill, tabled under the banner of Nari Shakti Vandana, sought to expand Lok Sabha strength from 543 seats to 850, based on delimitation, so that women’s reservation could be operationalised ahead of the 2029 general elections.

It also proposed a proportional seat increase in state assemblies to accommodate 33% reservation for women. The bill required a two‑thirds majority, but the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed only 298 votes in favour, with 230 against, out of 528 members who participated in the division.

BJP leader and MP Hema Malini, speaking during a protest in New Delhi on Saturday, said that the Prime Minister would speak directly to citizens, especially women, about the historic setback in the Lok Sabha and the government’s resolve to carry forward the agenda of women’s empowerment.

She accused the opposition of denying the bill passage despite repeated government efforts, and urged the public to watch the Prime Minister’s address.

The NDA has portrayed the bill’s defeat as a “grave betrayal” of women, while the opposition argues that the proposal conflated delimitation with women’s reservation and that the government’s move was politically timed.

The Prime Minister’s speech is widely expected to condemn the opposition’s role, reaffirm the government’s commitment to women’s reservation, and hint at future political or legislative moves on the issue, including the possibility of a future women’s reservation bill without delimitation linkage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar