Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma Issues Sharp Statement on Defeat of Women's Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026; Calls It a "Dark Chapter" Caused by the Opposition
On April 17, 2026, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma sharply criticised the opposition for the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, calling the day a "dark chapter." The Bill, linking women's reservation to Lok Sabha expansion (543 to 850) and fresh delimitation, was defeated 298-230 short of the two-thirds majority.
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Key Points for RAS
- Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma issued a sharp public statement on April 17, 2026 after the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
- Sharma described April 17, 2026 as a day that 'was set to be a historic day' but had been turned into a 'dark chapter' by the opposition including the Congress.
- The defeated Bill linked one-third women's reservation under the 106th Constitutional Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) to Lok Sabha expansion from 543 to 850 seats and fresh delimitation.
- The CM criticised the Congress and the wider INDIA bloc for opposing what BJP positioned as a women's empowerment initiative under PM Narendra Modi.
- He contrasted his government's stated principles of inclusion and development against what he called opposition 'vote-bank politics'.
- The intervention places a State CM directly into the national debate over representation and delimitation reform.
- It signals BJP intent to use the bill's defeat as a political issue in upcoming State and General Elections.
On April 17, 2026, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma issued a sharp public statement from Jaipur after the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha — the legislation that sought to operationalise the one-third women's reservation under the 106th Constitutional Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) by linking it to Lok Sabha expansion to 850 seats and a fresh delimitation. The CM said April 17 "was set to be a historic day, but the opposition, including the Congress, turned it into a dark chapter," arguing that the conduct exposed what he called the opposition's mentality. Sharma criticised the Congress and the broader INDIA bloc for opposing what the BJP had positioned as a women's empowerment initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that "those who ruled for 70 years did nothing for women" and characterising the opposition's posture as "vote-bank politics" and "family-based politics" that fears the rise of women from "ordinary families." The Rajasthan CM contrasted this with what he described as his government's principles of inclusion and development. The intervention is significant for two reasons: it places a State CM directly in the national debate over linking representation reform with delimitation, and it signals that the BJP intends to make the bill's defeat a political issue heading into upcoming State and General Elections, including in States where the women voter base has shifted decisively.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What did Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma say on April 17, 2026?
He said the day was set to be historic but the opposition, including the Congress, had turned it into a dark chapter, after the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
2 Which constitutional amendment was the parent law for the women's reservation that the defeated bill sought to operationalise?
The 106th Constitutional Amendment, 2023 — also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — which introduced one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
3 Why is the CM's intervention politically significant?
It places a sitting State CM directly into the national debate over linking women's reservation with Lok Sabha expansion and delimitation, and previews how BJP plans to frame the defeat in upcoming elections.
4 What was the underlying parliamentary outcome that prompted the CM's statement?
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was defeated 298-230 in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, short of the two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
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