In a significant political setback, the government failed to pass a Constitutional Amendment aimed at fast-tracking women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha, marking its first legislative defeat in 12 years. Despite securing 298 votes in favour, the bill fell short of the required two-thirds majority.The amendment had sought to accelerate the implementation of 33% reservation for women by linking it to a delimitation exercise — a move that triggered sharp opposition. Critics argued that tying women’s representation to the politically sensitive process of redrawing constituencies risked delaying the reform and altering the balance of power between states.With the amendment’s failure, the government has also put the Delimitation Bill on hold. The proposal, which aimed to expand Lok Sabha seats and redraw constituencies ahead of 2026, had sparked intense debate, particularly over its potential impact on northern and southern states.While the 2023 women’s reservation law remains in place, its implementation is now uncertain, as it continues to depend on a Census and delimitation process that is politically stalled. Shreya Chandra explains