Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of exploiting the women's reservation issue for political gain, following the defeat of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament. At a development event in Haveri district, he asserted that the Congress party has always supported women's reservation, citing the 33% reservation introduced by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He expressed concerns that the proposed delimitation exercise could disproportionately favor larger northern states like Uttar Pradesh, potentially diminishing the political power of smaller states like Karnataka, which would see only 42 seats despite proactive population policies. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar echoed these sentiments, criticizing the Centre's approach for lacking consultation with opposition parties, likening it to authoritarian rule. He emphasized the need for broader discussions on such significant changes. The BJP countered these claims, with Karnataka's Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka accusing Congress of denying women political representation and asserting that the party would face backlash in upcoming elections. Protests by the BJP Mahila Morcha are ongoing in Karnataka, expressing outrage over the bill's defeat.