'Countdown For The Modi Govt Begins': Arvind Kejriwal On The Defeat Of 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill

The Constitution 131st Amendment Bill did not achieve the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, halting plans for a potential expansion of seats and delimitation. The episode triggers political debate and subsequent moves regarding related legislation and representation across states and union territories.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on women’s reservation failed in the Lok Sabha during the three-day special Parliament session, after a two-day debate and an evening vote, where it fell short of the required two-thirds majority.

Out of 528 members who participated in the voting, 298 supported the amendment and 230 opposed it. However, the proposal needed backing from 352 MPs to be passed, so the government could not secure the necessary numbers.

Delimitation Bill and Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill voting outcome

Speaker Om Birla announced the result after counting, stating, “The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill could not be passed, as it did not receive a two-thirds majority in the House during voting.” The decision halted the attempt to change representation in the lower House.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was linked to a major delimitation exercise. It proposed increasing the total Lok Sabha strength to 850 seats, with 815 members from states and 35 representatives from Union Territories, reshaping political weight across regions.

Delimitation Bill debate, political reactions and follow-up moves

Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju requested Speaker Om Birla not to proceed further with the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Aam Aadmi Party convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sharply criticised the government after the vote. Kejriwal posted on X, “The delimitation bill failed in Parliament, Modi ji's arrogance has been defeated, the countdown for the Modi government has begun.”

The political war of words came amid another confrontation between AAP and the Centre. In a separate development, Enforcement Directorate teams conducted a second raid within three days on a Punjab AAP leader, prompting Kejriwal to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “low-level politics for power”.

Parties are now assessing the impact of the failed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the stalled Delimitation Bill, 2026, as the proposed rise to 850 Lok Sabha seats and the new distribution between states and Union Territories remain on hold.