The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched "Mission 360" to secure the two-thirds majority required to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill [1].
This legislative push is critical because the amendment links women’s reservation with the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. If the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fails to reach the necessary threshold, the government cannot implement these structural changes to India's electoral map and representation.
The NDA is currently six MPs short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendment [2]. This deficit follows a previous attempt in April 2024, when the bill failed to achieve the required support during a special session [1].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA are intensifying efforts to garner broader support before the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins on July 20, 2024 [1]. The strategy involves coordinating a push among alliance partners to ensure the 131st Amendment clears the floor, a move intended to stabilize the political landscape ahead of future elections.
Delimitation involves the redrawing of boundaries for parliamentary constituencies to reflect population changes. By linking this process with women's reservation, the government aims to create a comprehensive package that addresses both geographic representation, and gender parity in the Lok Sabha [1].
Legislators are expected to engage in high-level negotiations as the July 20 deadline approaches. The success of Mission 360 depends on the NDA's ability to flip a small number of votes or secure commitments from independent members to close the gap of six seats [2].
“The NDA is currently six MPs short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendment”
The push for the 131st Amendment represents a high-stakes gamble for the Modi administration. By tying women's reservation to delimitation, the government is attempting to solve two systemic issues simultaneously. However, the slim margin of six MPs means that a few defections or abstentions could block a central pillar of the NDA's legislative agenda, potentially delaying electoral reforms for years.
