Chandrababu Naidu Slams Opposition Over Defeat of Women’s Reservation Bill

New Delhi, April 2026 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday strongly criticised Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress, for the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, calling it a “betrayal” of millions of women aspiring for greater political representation.

The Bill, which proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies starting from 2029, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha despite receiving 298 votes in favour and 230 against. As a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority, the legislation fell short of the required threshold.

Reacting sharply to the development, Naidu accused the Opposition of allowing political considerations to override national interest. He described the outcome as a “historical blunder” and said it denied women a long-awaited opportunity to secure equitable representation in governance.

Taking to social media, Naidu reposted remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and echoed the government’s stance on the issue. He alleged that the Opposition had deliberately obstructed a transformative reform that could have strengthened women’s participation in law-making.

“This is not just political opposition; it is a direct betrayal of lakhs of women who dream of equal participation in Parliament,” Naidu said, adding that the nation would remember the moment and hold those responsible accountable.

The proposed amendment was part of a broader plan by the Central government to implement women’s reservation after a delimitation exercise, which would also involve increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats to reflect population changes. The linkage between reservation and delimitation, however, became a major point of contention between the government and Opposition parties.

Supporters of the Bill argued that it would mark a historic step towards gender equality by ensuring a stronger presence of women in legislative bodies. They maintained that the reform was essential to bring diverse perspectives into governance and policymaking.

On the other hand, critics raised concerns over tying women’s reservation to delimitation, arguing that it could delay implementation and potentially alter regional representation, particularly impacting southern states.

Naidu’s remarks come amid an intensifying political debate over women’s empowerment and electoral reforms. With the Bill’s defeat, the implementation of women’s reservation has been pushed into uncertainty once again, prolonging a reform that has been under discussion for decades.