PM Modi to address the nation at 8:30 pm tonight after women’s quota bill defeat in Lok Sabha

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the timing of the address but did not disclose the subject, fuelling speculation amid a politically charged backdrop.

The announcement comes shortly after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill did not achieve the mandatory two-thirds majority in the Lower House.

The proposed legislation aimed to introduce a 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

The bill also sought to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 members and initiate delimitation based on the 2011 Census.

During voting, 298 Members of Parliament supported the bill, while 230 voted against it, leading to its defeat.

Government signals political fallout

According to sources, the Prime Minister addressed the issue during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.

He reportedly criticised Opposition parties for not backing the legislation, describing their stance as detrimental to women’s interests.

Sources indicated that he labelled the Opposition’s position a serious misstep and suggested it could carry political consequences in the future.

He also reportedly urged party members to take the message to grassroots levels, highlighting what he described as a negative outlook towards women among Opposition groups.

Opposition hits back strongly

The Opposition responded sharply to the developments.

Speaking at a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Priyanka Gandhi termed the outcome a “major victory for democracy” and described it as a setback for the ruling government.

She stated that the result marked the first parliamentary defeat for the Centre since it assumed office in 2014.

She also alleged that the government attempted to push the bill by linking it with delimitation measures.

Priyanka Gandhi further claimed that the proposal to carry out delimitation based on the 2011 Census instead of conducting a fresh census raised concerns.

She alleged that this move was intended to bypass demands for a caste census.

The Opposition leader also accused the government of attempting to secure political advantage through the bill’s provisions, arguing that the approach raised broader questions about electoral representation and policy intent.

However, with the bill failing to clear the Lok Sabha, both the proposed women’s reservation and the delimitation process remain uncertain.

The political focus has now shifted to the Prime Minister’s scheduled address to the nation, as stakeholders await clarity on the government’s next steps.