Agencies | New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation at 8:30 p.m. tonight, in a development that comes amid heightened political tensions following the failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.
While no official details have been disclosed regarding the content of the address, it is expected to draw significant attention as political developments continue to unfold at the national level.
The much-anticipated 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which aimed to introduce reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies from 2029, failed to secure passage in the Lok Sabha. The proposal received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the required two-thirds majority of 352 votes needed for a constitutional amendment.
The Bill also proposed a substantial increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats—from the current 543 to a potential 850—to facilitate the implementation of 33 percent reservation for women. This expansion was to be carried out through a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Following the setback, the government also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to proceed with two related legislations—the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
With the legislation stalled and no immediate roadmap announced, all eyes are now on the Prime Minister’s address, which comes at a crucial moment marked by intense political debate and uncertainty over the future of women’s reservation in the country.
