Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, said the Bharatiya Janata Party intends to force through the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill [1].
The allegation suggests a strategic move by the ruling party to alter the fundamental structure of Indian representation and social equity. If the bill passes, it could lead to a significant shift in how legislative seats are distributed and who qualifies for protected quotas.
Speaking in New Delhi on Friday, Ramesh said the BJP's approach is an attempt to "bulldoze" the legislation [1]. The 130th Amendment Bill [1] focuses on the framework for delimitation and reservation. While some reports link the bill to women's reservation, Ramesh said the broader intent is to dismantle existing reservation systems entirely [2].
According to Ramesh, the BJP is pursuing a specific legislative threshold to achieve these goals. He said the party's real target is to secure a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha [2]. Such a majority would provide the legal authority required to amend the Constitution and end reservation provisions [2].
Bipartisan tension has escalated over the bill's progress in the lower house. Ramesh said the Prime Minister and Home Minister are currently splitting parties following the bill's failure in the Lok Sabha [3]. These actions, he said, are designed to manufacture the necessary support to pass the amendment despite initial resistance.
The Congress leader said the BJP's strategy involves manipulating party loyalties to reach the 66.7% of seats required for a supermajority [2]. This effort to reorganize the Lok Sabha's composition through delimitation is viewed by the opposition as a tool for political consolidation rather than administrative necessity.
“"The BJP is trying to bulldoze the 130th Amendment Bill,"”
The dispute over the 130th Amendment Bill highlights a critical struggle over the future of affirmative action in India. By targeting a two-thirds majority, the BJP would gain the power to make unilateral changes to the Constitution, potentially removing long-standing quotas for marginalized groups. The focus on delimitation further suggests a move to redraw electoral boundaries, which could shift political power based on demographic changes.
