'Govt's conspiracy defeated': Priyanka Gandhi slams centre after women's quota bill failed in Lok Sabha

The Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), enacted in 2023 as the 106th Constitutional Amendment, reserves 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies (including a sub-quota for SC/ST women).

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hailed the failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill - the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill - in the Lok Sabha, saying that the government’s conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped.

Addressing a press conference, she called the bill's defeat a victory for the Constitution. She alleged that the government was using women as a tool to stay in power permanently.

"What happened yesterday was a huge victory for democracy. The government's conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped. This was a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the country, and a victory for the unity of the opposition, and it was clearly visible on the faces of the ruling party leaders. I think it's a conspiracy that somehow they need to stay in power. So, to achieve this, they're planning how to permanently stay in power using women," she said.

#WATCH | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a press conference over the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha. 

She says, "What happened yesterday was a huge victory for democracy. The government's conspiracy to alter the federal structure and…  pic.twitter.com/8HVGHFGeIH — ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2026

Priyanka Gandhi claimed that Friday was a “black day” for the BJP-led central government, saying they had felt a shock for the first time. She also advised the Centre to bring back the Bill that was passed unanimously in 2023 if it wanted to do something concrete.

“It’s a black day for them (the Centre) because they’ve felt a shock for the first time, which they deserved. The problems of women today are growing exponentially. The struggle is increasing. Women aren’t fools; they see everything. PR and media hype won’t work anymore. If you want to do something concrete, bring back the Bill that was passed unanimously in 2023, supported by all parties. If you need to make a few small amendments so it can be implemented now, do it and implement it now. Give women their rights right now. But don’t try to mislead them by twisting it around and attaching it to other things. Do it now. We’re all ready,” she said.

Expressing support for the Women’s Reservation Bill, she urged the central government to bring back the 2023 legislation, with any necessary changes, and ensure its implementation by 2029, assuring full support from the Opposition parties.

“We are saying very clearly, and we will say this from every platform, in every state, not just the Congress party, but every party of the INDIA alliance, bring back the 2023 legislation that was passed. Make whatever changes you want to ensure it is implemented by 2029; we will fully support it,” she said.

She also claimed that the way the Bill was introduced, along with provisions like delimitation and the 2011 Census, made it clear the government knew it would not pass and was only seeking political credit.

“The way they have brought this Bill, the things they have attached to it, delimitation, the 2011 Census, it’s very clear that they knew this Bill was not going to pass. They just wanted the political credit,” she said.

The Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), enacted in 2023 as the 106th Constitutional Amendment, reserves 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies (including a sub-quota for SC/ST women). However, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aimed to expedite its implementation, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on April 17, as it could not secure the requisite two-thirds majority.

The possibility of its passage in the future remains, should the government reintroduce it with broad consensus or following political dialogue, particularly since the original 106th Amendment remains in force and awaits the delimitation exercise to be conducted after the census.