SHILLONG: Meghalaya BJP in-charge Anil K. Anthony expressed strong disappointment on Monday, stating that the failure to pass three pivotal amendment bills in the Lok Sabha has cost the state a historic chance to expand its parliamentary voice and secure guaranteed representation for women.
Addressing the media, Anthony highlighted that had the proposed legislation been successful, Meghalaya’s Lok Sabha representation would have increased from two to three seats, with a mandatory provision reserving one of those seats for a woman Member of Parliament.
According to him, the Union government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had introduced a trifecta of bills during a recent special session — The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The core objective of these bills was to delink women’s reservation from the lengthy Census and Delimitation processes—potentially enabling implementation by the 2029 elections rather than the currently projected 2034 timeline.
Anthony pointed the finger directly at the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and DMK. He alleged that repeated disruptions during the two-day special session prevented the bills from being put to a vote.
“This is a recurring trend of obstruction,” Anthony remarked, drawing a parallel to the failed 1996 attempt to pass women’s reservation under the H.D. Deve Gowda administration. “By blocking these reforms, the Opposition has delayed a significant step toward inclusive governance.”
The BJP leader further clarified that the proposed framework was designed to be “win-win” for all states. While allowing for a 50% expansion of the Lok Sabha’s total strength to ensure equitable representation, the bills sought to safeguard the existing number of seats for every state, ensuring no region lost its current political weight.
With the National Census expected to conclude only by 2027, Anthony maintained that the “misleading narratives” and resistance from the Opposition have effectively stalled reforms that would have empowered Meghalaya’s voters and women leaders sooner.
He reiterated the BJP’s commitment to gender equity, noting that women make up more than half the country’s population and deserve an immediate, guaranteed seat at the table of national decision-making.
