The Congress on Friday claimed a constitutional victory after the Constitution Amendment Bill linking women’s reservation with delimitation was defeated in the Lok Sabha, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi saying that the amendment bill has fallen. “They (BJP) used an unconstitutional trick in the name of women to break the Constitution. India has seen it. INDIA has stopped it. Hail the Constitution,” he said.The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, which sought to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 alongside a fresh delimitation exercise and an increase in Lok Sabha seats, secured 298 votes in favour and 230 against. However, it fell short of the mandatory two-thirds majority required for passage, leading to its defeat in the Lower House.Earlier, during the debate in the house, Rahul Gandhi said the proposal was not aimed at women’s empowerment but at altering political representation across states. He said that the move would reduce the voice of southern, north-eastern and smaller states, calling it “nothing short of an anti-national act”.Soon after the bill was defeated, Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised the government’s approach, linking the proposal to concerns over federal balance and the Constitution.“The nefarious and mischievous attempt of the Prime Minister and Home Minister to link their dangerous delimitation proposals to women’s reservation (that had already been settled) has been decisively defeated in the Lok Sabha. This is a win for our democracy, our federalism, and the Constitution. This also calls into question the legitimacy of the non-biological, non-grihasthi PM,” he said“The next steps for the Modi Government are clear — they should implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the existing set up of the Lok Sabha for the 2029 Election. This has been the consistent demand of the entire Opposition ever since September 2023 when the Parliament unanimously passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act 2023 — which finally got notified only late last night,” said the Congress Rajya Sabha MP added.The development comes a day after the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, providing 33 per cent quota for women in legislatures, was brought into force through a notification issued by the Union Law Ministry on April 16, 2026. The notification came even as Parliament debated amendments to link its implementation to delimitation and defer its rollout to 2029, drawing questions from the Opposition.The Opposition has consistently demanded that the 33 per cent reservation be implemented within the existing structure of the Lok Sabha without linking it to delimitation.The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day and will reconvene on April 18, with the fallout of the Bill’s defeat expected to shape the next phase of the political contest over women’s reservation, delimitation and representation.