PM Modi to address nation at 8.30pm today, a day after women’s quota Bill defeat in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm on Saturday, a day after a bill to implement women’s reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha.

Modi is expected to speak on the women’s quota issue and developments in Parliament, where opposition parties on Friday voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.

The Bill proposed increasing Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to operationalise women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. It also proposed increasing seats in state and Union Territory assemblies to provide 33 per cent reservation for women.

A two-thirds majority was required for the Bill to pass, but the ruling BJP-led alliance fell short. During voting in the Lok Sabha on Friday night, 298 members supported the Bill, while 230 opposed it.

Of the 528 members who voted, the Bill needed 352 votes to secure a two-thirds majority.
(With PTI inputs)