I Appeal To 37 Women MPs From Oppn To Vote For The Three Crucial Bills: BJP MP Shashank Mani

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Bhaskar Bhagare credited former Union Defence Minister and NCP (SP) chief Sharadchandra Pawar for commission of women into the Armed Forces. "In the name of women's reservation, the Centre wants to ensure delimitation and we oppose that," Bhagare said.

After Bhagare, Janata Dal (United) MP from Gopalganj, Dr Alok Kumar Suman, spoke in the favour of the Bills.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that if the three Bills are passed, then Opposition will have no voice. He said that BJP wants to make India a Hindu Rashtra.

He then spoke on Jammu and Kashmir. "It is for the treasury benches to decide on it," he said.

"India a Union of States and the Bills want to finish the diversity. I want to appeal that the formula in Canada should be used in India," the Hyderabad MP said. He appealed Centre to implement the formula given by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

He said with the three Bills, the government want to implement the agenda of Bhartiya Jan Sangh. He concluded with a few lines by Rahat Indori.

"I am warning you, you do not have majority, do not bring the Bills," he said.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey clarified on the statement of Owaisi, where he used the name of former RSS chief Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar. NK Premchandran, who was in the Chair, said that Dubey's remarks would not go on record. MP Hanumant Beniwal, who represents the Nagaur constituency in Rajasthan, spoke in the favour of the amendment for the Women's Reservation Bill.

While asserting that the three Bills introduced on Thursday are the most important of the current 18th Lok Sabha, BJP MP Shashank Mani said India will set an unique example in the world.

While complimenting 74 Women MPs, who have been elected to the current Lok Sabha, without any reservation, Mani thanked the 15 lakh female voters of his constituency for electing him and voting for a Vikasit Bharat (developed India).

"Through this Bill, a message will go in the World," he said. "This morning the Prime Minister appealed to the House and I also appeal to the 37 women MPs from the Opposition to vote in favour of the Bills," he added.

Independent MP from Purnia Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav also spoke on the Bill. He asked what was the need for a three-day extended session. He also said that the incidents in Manipur are the darkest chapter in India's history.

Discussion continued in the Lok Sabha on the three Bills - the The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Delimitation Bill, 2026, which were introduced in the House around noon. Members cutting across party lines expressed their views.

The Lok Sabha, which usually adjourns at 6 PM, has decided that it will function till 11 PM. Nationalist Congress Party MP Sunil Tatkare spoke on the Bill and why his party supported it.

Congress MP K Suresh said that his party was not happy with 30 seats after delimitation. " Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) revealed that Kerala's seats will be increased from current to 30 and we are not happy with it. Kerala state is not happy with this proportion," he said while speaking in the Lok Sabha.

He said migrant labourers come to Kerala and work there. "Our number in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is very less," he quipped.

He also said in the current Lok Sabha, the number of SC and ST Women members is "very less". He said that democracy is not about numbers. "We stand for immediate justice and we oppose the Bills and request the government to withdraw the Bill," he said. After K Suresh, BJP MP PP Choudhary spoke in the favour of the Bills.

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said during a podcast she asked a person isn't it a best time to be a woman and that person agreed. "Today under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this government has told women - Jau Betiyo, Jilo Apli Zindagi'," she said referring to a famous dialogue from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayange - Ja Simram Ja Jile Apni Zindagi. She said when she got a ticket in 2014 Lok Sabha polls ticket, a Congress leader wrote below her photo - 'Mandi Ki Ladki Ki Kya Bahhav Hai'.

"The people of Mandi gave a befitting reply to the Congress by electing a daughter," she said.

Congress MP from Kishanganj in Bihar Mohammad Jawed said the main intension is delimitation. "It is a backdoor entry for delimitation and the BJP is preparing for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls," he said.

"We will ensure that the Bill will not be passed," he said. Referring to Pakistan, the Congress MP also said the BJP speaks about India's neighbours, 60 seats are reserved for women.

He said there is no Muslim, no Sikh or no Christian MP from the National Democratic Alliance. "There is not a single Muslim minister in the Cabinet and it is a matter of shame," he said.

He said he got a chance to ask question for just four to five times in 5 years. "This is BJP's attempt to redraw political map of the country for their own benefit. The Prime Minister will campaign and boast about what his government did, but he will not mention about what Rajiv Gandhi did for Panchayats," he said.

BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Raksha Khadse spoke in the favour of the Bill.

Congress MP Praniti Shinde said she felt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked confused while he was speaking in the Lok Sabha on the three Bills including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, 2026.

"The BJP wants to keep things in its control. Before bringing delimitation, the Centre should hold an all-party meeting. I urge the government not to use women for its own benefits," said Praniti, daughter of senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

After her, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi spoke in the favour of the Bill.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister, since he took oath in 2014, an atmosphere for women's empowerment has been created. Since 1996, the Women's Bill had remianed unfulfilled. This is a great achievement of Prime Minister Modi and whole of us. I have been listening to both the sides - the treasury benches and the Opposition. In 1996 September, the then Prime Minister HD Dewegowda had brought the Bill but it was not passed," she said.

The government of Prime Minister Modi did it in September 2023, she added.

She said only 13.6 per cent are women MPs while the global average is 24 and it is a cause of concern. "While we are are at 13.6, our close neighbour has 33 per cent. Why do we have only 13.6 per cent," she said.

She said talking about Prime Minister Modi's Commitment for women's empowerment is like showing light to Sun.

Rashtriya Lok Dal MP Raj Kumar Sangwan said he is supporting the Constitution (131 Amendment) Bill, 2026 and it will empower the country. "There will be an increase of Lok Sabha seats. Now Parliament has been given powers to take approriate decisons," he said. The MP also said that his ideal Chaudhary Charan Singh always kept the interests of the farmers at the forefront. "In the end, these Bills are a right step in empowering women. I appeal all the MPs to support the three Bills," he said.

BJP MP from Rajamundhry Dr D Purandeshawari lauded for former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao for his women centric initiatives. "I stand as proud daughter of that father who provided reservations in Mandal Praja Parishad even before 73rd and 74th amendment came into existence. That leader is NT Rama Rao," she said.

She said under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee - the Bills were introduced. "We have seen many instances when the Bill was brought but was shot down," she added.

The BJP MP recalled instances when a copy of the Bill was tore by a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and the opposition by Samajwadi Party MPs in the 1990s. She said that she was surprised that Akhilesh Yadav, who is the President of Samajwadi Party, is now supporting the Bill.

"2023 - Opposition's words were implement it, their words changed it in 2026. Sonia Gandhi has self issued statements in favour of the Bill but they were empty systems," she said.

She said Opposition had 27 years to implement the Bills. "The Bill passed by Rajya Sabha was never introduced in the Lok Sabha in the UPA regime," she added.

Congress MP Manish Tiwari said only 14 seats will rise in North East. "The question is not about proportion, it is about absolute numbers," he said.

He said he failed to understand who has drafted the Bill. Tiwari also said there are 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and if it goes to 120, then the number of seats will be 500 in Assembly.

"What was the process since 1935. First Census would be conducted, then delimitation and the seats are divided among the seats. "Do you want to make it National People's of China?," he asked.

Tiwari said the role of the function is to make laws. "Strenghten the 73rd and 74th instutions. At 543 it is difficult for the Parliament to function, imagine what will be at 815," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said the BJP wants to turn Bengal into Kashmir. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the three Bills - 131st Constitutional Amendment and two laws, Mehdi said, "These are important Bills. We are against delimitation. When Jammu and Kashmir became part of the nation, we demanded protection but they are taken away one by one. From 1947 till today, there is imbalance. If we do delimitation, there will be disadvantage for south India. It is titled towards North. After this delimitation, the powers will be with four and five states. The decision of Jammu and Kashmir can be taken by these five states," Mehdi said. He said after the Bill is passed then five states will have right to decide for Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday listed out the efforts taken by her party for the Women's Reservation Bill.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka said, "This is an important topic. I want to give a little background. The start was done by Nehru, who is not the one he feared. It was done by Motilal Nehru."

"Our women got the right to vote since independence. The women in the USA had to wait for 150 years. The Prime Minister, as usual, gave half-truths. The BJP had opposed it. In 2010, under the leadership of former Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, we tried to give reservations. The Prime Minister makes fun of topics taken up by Rahul Gandhi in the House but dwells upon them when he goes home," Priyanka said.

She said that after reading Rahul Gandhi's 2018 letter, the Narendra Modi government passed the Women's Reservation Bill, which was supported by the Indian National Congress.

"The Indian National Congress stands by the Women's Reservation Bill," she maintained. She said that the Indian Constitution belongs to everyone. She also charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to steal the rights of OBCs in the Women's Bill.

TDP MP Byreddy Shabari strongly supported the women's quota bills, stating that the nation is now embracing women-led development and that the proposed legislation will give women the opportunity to lead India in the right direction.

Shabari highlighted the Telugu Desam Party's efforts for women's empowerment, including reservations in government jobs, and remarked that women’s roles are no longer restricted but are now central to the country's progress.

Another NDA partner, JD(U), also backed the bills. MP Dileshwar Kamait said women’s participation in national development must be expanded to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047. The bills, introduced by Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah, faced opposition protests, with critics calling the legislation anti-constitutional.

Congress MP K C Venugopal said all past delimitation decisions were made by consensus and called for an all-party meeting on the Women’s Reservation Bill. He questioned the timing of the session, especially with elections ongoing in Tamil Nadu, and raised concerns about shifting delimitation decisions from constitutional to ordinary legislation.

Venugopal accused the Centre of delaying the bill and using women’s reservation to undermine democracy, demanding immediate action.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded that all floor leaders were invited to meetings and that concerns should have been raised there. He also clarified that the Prime Minister questioned why Congress had issues with reservations in Parliament and Assemblies, despite supporting it in Panchayats. Venugopal countered that Congress had appointed India's first woman Prime Minister and remained committed to women’s empowerment.

Congress MP K C Venugopal raised concerns in Parliament, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a speech in the Parliament today and in his complete speech, we are searching for the word delimitation."

Venugopal alleged that the government is removing the constitutional cover for delimitation and questioned why women’s reservation was not implemented by 2024, noting that Parliament had already passed the bill unanimously in 2023. He accused the Prime Minister of focusing only on women’s reservation while avoiding the critical issue of delimitation.

Amid discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in the Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called for immediate implementation of the 2023 Act that gives 33 percent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and assemblies.

BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has written to all Odisha MPs, urging them to oppose the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill in its current form and seek the decoupling of the Women's Reservation Bill from the delimitation process.

Patnaik warned that the proposed changes could reduce Odisha's share in Parliament and undermine the state's political and economic interests. He called for unity beyond party lines to protect Odisha's representation and future.

A heated exchange erupted between DMK's A Raja and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha during debate on the Constitution Amendment and Delimitation Bills. Surya called delimitation a "constitutional mandate" delayed by past governments and accused opposition parties of giving the issue a "separatist" tone.

A Raja hit back, warning that population-based delimitation would penalise southern states that controlled population growth, stressing India is a "Union of States".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, reflected on his experience as an organisational worker. He shared, "I would often hear discussions in the streets saying, 'Look what kind of people these are. When it comes to giving reservations in panchayats, they give it very easily, because they do not fear losing their own positions'."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Lok Sabha during a discussion, said, "I give you a blank cheque for claiming credit on the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the Women's Reservation in Parliament, said, "Whoever opposed this bill 20-30 years ago didn't go beyond politics. However, today, women have a political consciousness and understanding. They are now vocal."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, said, "I come from the most backward community, but it is my responsibility to take everyone along." He emphasised, "If we all move forward together, this decision will not go in favour of any one party, but in favour of the country's democracy."

PM Modi urged that the women's reservation bill should not be measured in political terms. He acknowledged the delay in implementation, stating, "We could not implement women's quota in 2024, but now we have the opportunity to implement it in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "There is no need to give political colour to the issue of women's reservation in legislatures." He urged all Members of Parliament not to miss the important opportunity to provide reservations to women, stating, “Let us all MPs not miss this important opportunity to give reservations to women.”

PM Modi also warned, “Those who oppose the women's quota bill will pay a price for a long time.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "In India's development journey, MPs have got an opportunity to make women part of decision-making." He emphasised that India is moving forward in the 21st century with confidence. Highlighting the broader vision of development, PM Modi remarked, "A developed India does not mean only good infrastructure but participation of women in policy making."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, called the occasion "a very auspicious moment for us." He expressed pride in having the opportunity to bring half of India's population into policy making, stating, "Lucky to bring half of the population into policy making." PM Modi also emphasised the historic significance of the day, saying, "Have an opportunity to add a new chapter to Viksit Bharat."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the Lok Sabha and is speaking on the three important Bills that were presented in the Lower House.

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress MP KC Venugopal remarked, "Wait for the debate. The debate is happening here."

Samajwadi Party MP and Chief Akhilesh Yadav challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to disclose the number of women Chief Ministers they have appointed across 21 governments, including Union Territories, states and alliance partners.

"The BJP should tell us, in these 21 states where their governments are running with their allies, how many Chief Ministers have they appointed? How many women Chief Ministers have they made?" Yadav asked. Referring to Delhi, he remarked, "Although she is a 'half' Chief Minister."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak in the Lok Sabha around 3 PM today. His address comes during the special three-day Parliament session focused on the Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav reiterated his party's support for women's reservation during the Lok Sabha discussion on the introduced Bills, but raised concerns over the approach and narrative being set by the government.

"Samajwadi Party is and has always been in favour of women’s reservation," Yadav said, while questioning the BJP about the representation of women within its own ranks. "How many women are part of the parental organisation that you come from?" he asked.

He argued that the "real goal" behind introducing women’s reservation is to secure votes and retain power. Yadav also accused the government of attempting to delay the caste census and targeted the BJP by asking how many women Chief Ministers are there in BJP-ruled states.

"The BJP wants to use the slogan of women to advance its agenda. A party that has not given women adequate space within its own organisation, how will it ensure their dignity and respect? The organisation it comes from should first tell us how many women it has in positions of honour," Yadav said.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas, on the Women's Reservation Bill, called for its immediate implementation based on the current 543 Lok Sabha seats. "If the government is sincere about the cause of women's empowerment, let them forthwith implement women's reservation out of the 543 memberships of the Lok Sabha. Let it be disconnected from delimitation, census and all these plethora of qualifications which they want to bring in," Brittas said. He further stated, "We will not support any move to increase the number of Lok Sabha and assemblies without having sufficient consultation with the stakeholders and state governments."

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya accused the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He said the Opposition is misleading the public in southern India on the issue of delimitation. "I come from the south, from Karnataka, and over the last three days we have seen a systematic misleading and propaganda by the Opposition in the most anarchic fashion in southern India," he said during the discussion.

Responding to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Surya asserted, "Delimitation is not a back door exercise; we are purely following what the Constitution mandates."

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, accused the government of not favouring the women's reservation bill, and that is why they are repeatedly creating obstacles to its implementation.

Gogoi alleged that the government's bills are not genuinely aimed at ensuring women's reservation but are instead intended to push delimitation through the back door.

He further claimed that the government is not supportive of a caste census and does not want to implement it. Gogoi added that the government is bulldozing the delimitation process in the name of women's reservation.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi asserted in the Lok Sabha that women's reservation should be implemented based on the current strength of the House, which is 543 members, and should not be linked to the delimitation process.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "I am proud and happy to speak today. This day will be written in golden letters in the history of India's parliamentary affairs."

Addressing the House, the Union Law Minister explained, "The women’s reservation bill was passed in 2023, providing for implementing its provisions based on the census after 2026 and delimitation. There will be an equal, 50 per cent increase in the strength of Lok Sabha members, and this will translate to 815 seats, of which 272 will be reserved for women, which comes to one-third of the strength of the House. There will be no loss to anyone (states), and they will retain their strength."

The debate on the three important bills began in the Lok Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed dedicating 12 hours to debate three important bills, with the option to extend the discussion if needed. Rijiju stated, "If required and with the Speaker's permission, we can discuss for even more hours."

Speaker Om Birla affirmed that, if necessary, the debate could be extended to 18 hours, ensuring all members have ample opportunity to participate. "I have given proper time for debate to everyone," Birla said.

The voting on the three bills is scheduled for 4 PM tomorrow, Friday.

A Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at tweaking the women’s quota law was introduced in the Lok Sabha following a division of votes. The move came after Opposition members called for a recorded vote, which led to the bill's formal introduction. As many as 251 members supported the introduction of the bill to amend the women’s quota law, while 185 opposed it.

Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the following motion in the Lok Sabha, "That this House do suspend the proviso to rule 66 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha in its application to the motions for taking into consideration and passing of the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in as much as these are dependent upon the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, 2026."

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed questions raised by Akhilesh Yadav regarding the census. Shah stated, "Akhilesh Yadav asked why the census is not being conducted. I want to inform the entire country that the census process has already begun. The government has decided to conduct a caste census, and the enumeration is being carried out alongside the collection of caste data. If it were up to the Samajwadi Party, they would even assign castes to households."

Shah also commented on statements made by Dharmendra Yadav about reservations for Muslim women, saying, "Dharmendra Yadav spoke about giving reservations to Muslim women. This is unconstitutional. Reservation based on religion is unconstitutional."

In the Lok Sabha, 207 Members of Parliament voted in favour of introducing the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, while 126 members voted against it. The Opposition had called for a division to contest the move to introduce the bill, leading to a recorded vote.

Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Singh briefed the House on the automated voting system. While the Lok Sabha primarily uses the voice vote, when there is an objection, voting takes place via an electronic voting system with options for 'Yes', 'No', or 'Abstain'.

Singh explained, "If members keep pressing the button continuously before the first bell, or if they fail to press the button together before the second bell, their votes will not be registered. Members can see their individual votes displayed on the personal results board."

He added, "If a member wishes to change their vote, they can request to vote via paper slip."

DMK members are dressed in black clothes in the Lok Sabha to protest against the Delimitation Bill and amendments to the women's reservation law. "We favour the 2023 women quota law but present bill aims at delimitation," DMK's T R Baalu says.

RSP's N K Premchandran also opposes women's quota law amendment, saying it is not meant for reservation but delimitation.

Speaking in Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said the party protests bills on tweaking the women quota law as delimitation is being de-linked from the Census. He called for the inclusion of women from the backward classes.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also spoke on the matter and said they support women's quota in the legislature, but why not hold the census first? "What is the hurry?" he asked.

At this moment, Home Minister Amit Shah hit back at Yadav and said Census 2027 is on and "we have decided to go for caste enumeration".

"Reservation based on religion is unconstitutional," Shah said.

As soon as Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal sought permission to introduce bills to tweak the women quota law and set up a delimitation panel, Congress leader KC Venugopal objected to the introduction of these bills, calling them "anti-constitutional".

Home Minister Amit Shah also moved to introduce the bill to implement the proposed amended women quota law in the UTs of Delhi, Puducherry, and J&K. Venugopal questioned why the proposed changes in the women's quota law were incorporated when it was earlier passed by Parliament.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Thursday took oath as Rajya Sabha MP, along with other elected members, soon after house proceedings began at 11 am. Nabin was elected as a Rajya Sabha Member from Bihar in March 2026.

Proceedings have begun in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha houses on the first day of the 3-day special session of the Parliament that has been convened to table and pass three bills to enable the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act of 2023, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Lok Sabha began the day with obituary references to the passing away of former MPs Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, Mohsina Kidwai, and Hari Narayan Rajbhar. The house also expressed condolences on the passing away of legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away on April 12. Rajya Sabha also offered condolences over Bhosle's death.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said the three bills being introduced in the Lok Sabha today are, on the surface, presented and promoted as women's reservation, "but at their core lies the issue of delimitation".

In a post on X, Ramesh said "serious concerns" have emerged from across the country regarding the delimitation proposals, which benefit "certain states with relatively larger populations where the BJP is currently strong".

"As a result, the relative power of several states in the Lok Sabha will actually diminish. The way delimitation has been carried out in Assam and Jammu-Kashmir shows just how dangerously the Modi-Shah duo operates. The real intent and substance of these bills are steeped in deceit, and their impact is extremely far-reaching and damaging. They should be completely rejected in their current form," he said.

"The opposition's demand is simple: Out of the current 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, one-third should be reserved for women, along with ensuring reservations for women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). This was the opposition's stance even in 2023, and it remains so today. This is true participation in power, which is far more democratic and in line with constitutional values and principles."

Sources say arrangements have been made in the Visitors' Gallery of the Parliament House to enable women from diverse backgrounds to witness the parliamentary proceedings today. "At one-hour intervals throughout the day, approximately 2,000 women will observe the ongoing debate on this historic bill. Women from all states will arrive clad in their respective traditional attire," they said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India was all set to take a "historic step towards women's empowerment" starting today in the special session of Parliament.

"The respect for our mothers and sisters is the respect for the nation, and with this very spirit, we are moving forward resolutely in this direction. You, who illuminate the world with your radiant rays, shining brilliantly. With hymns, the Kanvas have celebrated you, O bountiful one, the nourisher of all," PM Modi posted on X.

Reacting to his post, BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote: #NariShakti We are all united to give rightful and respectful positions to the women of India."

Congress MP Hibi Eden has submitted a notice opposing the introduction of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha today. In his notice, Eden said the bill was a "clear attack on the Constitution and by amending Articles 82 and 334A of the Constitution, the Bill removes the constitutional anchor that historically tied delimitation to the latest census.

"The bill seeks to arbitrarily increase seats in Lok Sabha and redraw boundaries, which is bound to disadvantage southern states such as Kerala and skew the federal balance in favour of Hindi heartland states," the notice reads.

The Bill, it adds, has nothing to do with women's reservation. "This is purely BJP's attempt to hurriedly carry out delimitation for their political gains and escape the caste debate completely."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said late Wednesday that the country should "prepare itself for a political earthquake" as he shared a piece on X analysing the three bills the government is going to table in Parliament today.

Ramesh called the piece titled 'The BJP's Ploy: If You Can't Win the Game, Change the Rules', a "very detailed and informed analysis". The Opposition, he said, will do "whatever it takes to defeat the Constitution Amendment Bill especially".

"The country should prepare itself for a political earthquake," he wrote.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday burnt the copy of the Delimitation Bill that the government is set to table in Parliament in the special session that begins later in the day today. The DMK supremo also hoisted a black flag in protest against what he called a "black law that seeks to turn Tamils into refugees in our own land."

"Delimitation: Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu! Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down!" Stalin wrote in the post on X as he shared the video of him setting the copy on fire.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha today as the government is set to table three crucial bills together, sources told ETV Bharat. While Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will table the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Delimitation Bill 2026, Home Minister Amit Shah will move the Union Territories (Amendment) Bill.

Sources said that PM Modi is set to address the house at around 2:30 pm.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila has appealed to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to oppose the Delimitation Bill in the Parliament, flagging the 'perils' it could mete out to the state.

Highlighting that Andhra Pradesh is a deficit state, Sharmila emphasised that if Lok Sabha seats rise in the Parliament, it will lead to further fortifying of northern India's political influence and thereby affect the percolation of funds from the Centre to the state.

"I appeal to you (Naidu) to oppose the Delimitation Bill which will adversely affect the state's prospects. Centre's negligence will rise in sanctioning funds for projects like Amaravati capital and Polavaram Project," the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief said in an open letter to the TDP supremo, a key NDA ally.

Vociferously opposing delimitation, she said its passage will pose a threat to Andhra Pradesh's political and economic future, calling out the manner in which the bill is allegedly being "tabled at lightning speed and dictatorial fashion without any constitutional consultations."

The Centre is likely to introduce a 'schedule' in Parliament to specify the number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to each state, in a bid to address the Opposition's concerns over delimitation, according to a report.

The move will demonstrate that each state's percentage share of the Lok Sabha’s total strength remains unchanged from what it is now, the Indian Express reported on Thursday. A 'schedule' is an additional section to a legislation that provides detailed information supporting its text.

Quoting sources, the report said the three Bills cleared by the Cabinet to facilitate women’s reservation and delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies could not have mentioned a pro-rata increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats for states. That detail, they said, would instead be laid out in the 'schedule'.