The Government appears set to skip the controversial delimitation and women’s reservation agenda this Parliament session, with the Union Cabinet meeting previously scheduled for Thursday now cancelled.The Government’s earlier announcement of a Cabinet meeting on August 13 — the last day of the Monsoon Session — had fuelled speculation that the reworked Constitution Amendment Bills might be cleared by the Cabinet and reintroduced in Parliament at the last minute, in a move true to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s style of springing surprises.The criminal law amendments (IPC and CrPC), as well as the earlier move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, were both piloted by Shah at the fag end of their respective Parliament sessions.This time, however, the Government appears to be placing greater value on stakeholder consultations.Sources indicate that the Government has already worked up the two-third majority needed to pass the delimitation Bill, which is linked to the women’s reservation issue, but has decided to give the matter more time.Constitution amendments require a special majority of two-thirds of MPs present and voting; the previous version of this Bill was defeated by the Opposition in April.A defiant Opposition has this time not allowed Parliament to function smoothly, forcing the Government to accede to its demand for a statement from Amit Shah on the student protest issue.The Opposition has also forced a rethink on the FCRA amendments, which the Government may now refer to a joint committee of Parliament.The Government has attempted to pacify the Opposition to break the House deadlock, but has failed so far. For the Constitution Amendment Bill to be passed, a peaceful House is a prerequisite.The Opposition, perhaps aware that a smoothly functioning house could allow the Government to push delimitation through, has not let the Lok Sabha function normally, even after the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said Amit Shah is willing to participate in the debate on the student issue and respond to it.For the reworked Constitution Amendment Bill to be piloted in Parliament, the fresh amendments suited to stakeholders must first be cleared by the Cabinet. With no Cabinet meeting scheduled before the Monsoon Session ends on Thursday, indications are that the delimitation agenda will be taken up later, possibly in a special session.There is also talk that the Government may not prorogue the Monsoon Session when it concludes on Thursday, a move that would allow it to recall the session whenever it chooses.