Parliament Special Sitting: Clash Over Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Bills

An attempt to change electoral map of India: Rahul Gandhi on delimitation bill New Delhi, April 17, 2026 – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday launched a sharp attack on the government in Parliament, alleging that the proposed legislation around women’s reservation and delimitation is less about empowerment and more about a calculated attempt to redraw India’s electoral map to the ruling party’s advantage. Opening with a personal reflection on the role of women in his life, Gandhi quickly pivoted to what he called the “central truth” behind the bill. “This is not a women’s bill,” he said, arguing that Parliament had already passed a women’s reservation law in 2023 that remains unimplemented. “Instead of bringing a new framework, bring that law back and we will help you implement it.” He accused the government of “hiding behind India’s women” to push through a deeper political objective — reshaping representation across states and communities. According to Gandhi, the move risks sidelining Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Dalits and Adivasis by bypassing demands for a caste census and equitable political representation. “What is happening here is a bypass of the caste system… an attempt to deny power to OBC brothers and sisters,” he said, calling it “Manuvad over the Constitution.” At the heart of his critique was the charge that delimitation could tilt the balance of power away from southern and smaller states. Gandhi alleged that the government, facing “erosion of its political strength”, is attempting to “rejig the electoral map of India” in a way that would reduce the influence of these regions. “You are telling southern states, northeastern states, smaller states — that to stay in power, we will take away your power. This is nothing short of an anti-national act,” he said. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments in the women’s quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, the Congress leader said, “This is not a women’s bill as it has nothing to do with empowerment of women.” Gandhi Criticises Women’s Reservation Bill “This bill is an attempt to change the country’s electoral map, using and hiding behind India’s women,” he alleged. Gandhi said the government should bring back the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act for implementation and the opposition will help the government pass it immediately. Gandhi likewise accused the government of avoiding representation for OBCs and manipulating the caste census. He asserted the opposition will resist the government’s attempt to change representation in the Union of India. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the constitution amendment bill has nothing to do with women’s reservation but is an attempt by the government to change the country’s electoral map by taking away representation from southern, northeastern and smaller states, which is “nothing short of an anti-national act”.