SHILLONG: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Vincent H. Pala has clarified that the Congress Party’s opposition to the Women’s Reservation Bill stems from the government’s decision to link it with the Delimitation process, which aims to increase the number of Parliamentary seats across India.
Pala recalled that while the original Bill was approved in 2023 with his participation, the subsequent move to tie its implementation to Delimitation introduces significant risks. He alleged that the BJP government is attempting to mislead women with the promise of reservation while simultaneously intending to penalize states that have successfully managed their population growth.
According to the MPCC President, the proposed increase in the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) could jeopardize national unity. He pointed out that Northern states would likely see a surge in seats, whereas Southern states—despite contributing higher tax revenue (GTP) to the nation—would face a reduction in their relative parliamentary strength.
Pala also criticized the government for failing to provide transparency regarding the total number of seats to be increased and whether specific quotas for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) would be maintained. He noted that the plan to introduce up to 273 new seats nationwide lacks a clear and fair distribution mechanism.
Pala further asserted that the government intended to use Women’s Reservation as a “shield” to push through Delimitation. However, he noted that public awareness and scrutiny of the Bill led to widespread opposition.
This culminated on April 17, 2026, when the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. The Bill fell short of the required two-thirds majority (352 votes), securing only 298 votes in favor while 230 members voted against it.
This rejection marks a major turning point in Indian politics, as it effectively halts the plan to implement a 33 percent reservation for women in the 2029 elections. Regarding Meghalaya, Pala stated that it remains unclear whether the state would gain an additional MP seat or if such a seat would be reserved.
He said that the lack of a detailed timeline and preparation eventually forced the government to withdraw the Delimitation Bill 2026 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill following the defeat of the main Amendment Bill.
