The Indian government is preparing to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, during a special session of Parliament, aiming to increase the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 seats. However, it faces strong opposition from a unified bloc, which includes major parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The government links this expansion to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which reserves 33% of seats for women, but opposition leaders have dismissed this as a political stunt to facilitate a controversial delimitation process. The bill requires a “special majority” under Article 368 of the Constitution, necessitating approval from at least 360 members in the Lok Sabha, where the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently holds about 293 seats, leaving them short by 67 votes. In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA also lacks the required votes, needing 163 out of 244 total members. Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, have expressed strong dissent, with Stalin calling for statewide protests against the bill. The government, however, maintains that the bill is a significant step for women’s empowerment and is optimistic about securing the necessary support.