Chidambaram Criticizes BJP's Push for 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill

Congress leader P. Chidambaram has voiced strong objections to the BJP's efforts to revive the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which aims to reserve seats for women in legislative bodies. He warns that supporting this bill would betray the foundational principles of regional parties like the NCP and DMK. Chidambaram argues that the existing provisions already ensure women's representation and criticizes the BJP for attempting to manipulate electoral boundaries. He also highlights the potential negative impact of redistricting on states that have effectively managed population growth. Read on for a detailed analysis of this political maneuvering.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 15:48 IST

Congress Leader's Concerns Over BJP's Legislative Moves

On Tuesday, Congress leader P. Chidambaram accused the BJP of reaching out to the NCP (SP) and DMK to garner support for the proposed 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill. He urged both parties not to endorse this legislation, warning that backing the new version of the bill would betray the principles that guided these regional parties during earlier discussions on a similar proposal earlier this year.

BJP's Legislative Strategy Under Scrutiny

In a post on X, Chidambaram stated that the BJP intends to reintroduce the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which failed to pass in the previous parliamentary session in April 2026. He explained that the bill aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but he believes its true intention is to facilitate redistricting and potentially manipulate electoral boundaries.

Existing Provisions and Political Maneuvering

Chidambaram argued that the provision for women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies has already been established under the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, making a new bill unnecessary. He accused the BJP of attempting to gain political backing for this legislation, claiming that after creating divisions within the TMC, the BJP is now trying to win over the NCP (SP) and DMK to secure the votes needed for the approval of this failed bill's new version. He expressed confidence that both parties are aware of the bill's true objectives and will remain steadfast in their stance.

Impact of Redistricting on States

The senior Congress leader further asserted that the current redistricting formula would unfairly disadvantage states that have effectively implemented the national population policy and controlled population growth. He emphasized the need to robustly defend the rights of states against the aggressive tactics of the BJP.

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