A day after the failure of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared details of a candid post-session interaction with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
In a post on X, Tharoor described a brief exchange that took place inside the House following its adjournment sine die, accompanied by a photograph of Opposition MPs engaging with the minister. The discussion centred on the ruling party’s characterisation of the Opposition as “mahila virodhi” (anti-women).
According to Tharoor, when the issue was raised, it was pointed out that such a label could not reasonably be applied to him—a contention Rijiju reportedly acknowledged. “When he explained why his party was calling the Opposition ‘mahila virodhi’, it was pointed out that no one could ever call me anti-women. He conceded the point,” Tharoor wrote.
Advocacy for Women’s Representation, Caution on Delimitation
The Thiruvananthapuram MP used the occasion to reiterate his long-standing support for enhanced representation of women in governance and public institutions.
“Women are by far the better half of the species… They deserve representation in Parliament and in every institution,” he remarked, while cautioning against linking women’s empowerment to the proposed delimitation process.
Tharoor warned that tying reservation to delimitation could have unintended consequences for India’s democratic framework, describing such a move as “mischievous and potentially dangerous.”
Bill Falls Short of Required Majority
The remarks come in the wake of the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought to introduce 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures starting from 2029.
The proposal also included a significant restructuring of parliamentary representation, with plans to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats through a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census, alongside corresponding changes in state assemblies and Union Territories.
During voting, 298 MPs supported the bill while 230 opposed it. With 528 members present, the legislation fell short of the two-thirds majority threshold—352 votes—required for a constitutional amendment. The bill had been introduced during a special session of Parliament held from April 16 to 18.
Political Reactions Deepen Divide
The outcome has further sharpened political divisions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition, led by the Indian National Congress.
The Congress framed the result as a defence of democratic principles, accusing the government of attempting to link women’s reservation with delimitation for political advantage. In contrast, the BJP described the development as a “black day” and warned that parties opposing the bill could face public backlash, particularly from women voters.
Outlook
The defeat of the bill has reignited debate over both women’s representation and the broader implications of delimitation. As political rhetoric intensifies, the issue is likely to remain a central point of contention in the national discourse in the months ahead.
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