Central Minister Confident About Passage of Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has expressed strong confidence that the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill will be passed in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. He highlighted the strengthened position of the NDA following recent political changes and urged opposition parties to support the proposed legislation. Athawale also reflected on the previous setback when a similar constitutional amendment bill failed to secure the necessary majority. This article delves into the implications of these developments for women's representation in Indian politics and the importance of electoral reforms.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 16, 2026, 13:02 IST

Confidence in Legislative Progress

On Wednesday, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed optimism that the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament will see the passage of both the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill. He attributed this confidence to the strength of the NDA in the House. Speaking to reporters, Athawale noted that during the previous parliamentary session, the necessary support for constitutional amendment bills was lacking due to opposition from Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Political Dynamics Shift

Athawale mentioned that the political landscape has changed since then, providing the ruling coalition with the required numbers to pass legislation. He stated that the NDA now holds a clear majority. He further indicated that the Women's Reservation Bill will be introduced in the upcoming session, ensuring women will receive reservations in the Lok Sabha elections of 2029. Emphasizing the need for electoral reforms, he remarked that delimitation occurs every 30 to 35 years and is essential.

Strengthened Position of NDA

The Maharashtra leader pointed out that recent political developments have bolstered the NDA's position. He claimed that they possess a two-thirds majority and are confident that both the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill will be passed. He referenced the support from some TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) members for the NDA, as well as the DMK's decision to part ways with Congress. Athawale urged Congress and other opposition parties to support the proposed legislation.

Previous Legislative Setback

During a lengthy parliamentary session on April 17, a constitutional amendment bill aimed at implementing reservations for women in legislative bodies for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats was defeated. The bill garnered support from 298 members, while 230 voted against it. It failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, requiring 352 votes from the 528 members who participated in the voting.

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