THE HEADLINES:
- Constitution amendment bill to implement one third reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies fails in Lower House of Parliament.
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, opposition lost the historic opportunity of giving rights to women.
- Home Minister Amit Shah says, Congress will face wrath of women in polls.
- Campaigning for first phase of Assembly Elections in West Bengal and single phase in Tamil Nadu intensifies.
- Iran announces opening of Strait of Hormuz following Israel- Lebanon ceasefire.
- Oil prices drop more than 11 percent after the announcement.
- Met Department issues yellow alert for hot and humid conditions in Keralam till Sunday.
- In Women’s Cricket, first match of five match T20-I series between India and hosts South Africa to be played in Durban tonight.
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The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill 2026, intended to implement one-third women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assembly, today failed to get the nod in the Lower House. The Bill fell short of the two-thirds majority of 326, out of the total 489 members present in the Lok Sabha. During voting on the Bill, 298 MPs voted in favour of it and 230 against the bill. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the results of the voting, saying that it is not possible to move forward with this legislation as it failed to get the required majority for its passage.
Afterwards, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, the other two bills, including the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, are interlinked with the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill 2026, hence, these two bills will not be moved for passage. He accused the opposition of losing the opportunity to provide reservations to the women.
Earlier, replying to the discussion on three bills, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government will do everything to ensure reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies of States and Union Territories. Negating the opposition’s apprehensions on the delimitation exercise, the Minister said, provisions have been made in the constitution for the delimitation and this will lead to rationalisation of voters in every constituency.
Referring to the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, Mr Shah said, no one will suffer any loss. He said, country should not be divided along North-South lines. He claimed that even a small Union Territory like Lakshadweep has the same rights as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar.
Taking a dig at the opposition alliance, the Home Minister said that no one has opposed the constitutional amendment for women’s reservation, but all members of the opposition have clearly opposed women’s reservation.
Earlier, participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is not a women’s reservation bill and it has nothing to do with the empowerment of women.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla objected to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi using a magician analogy while speaking on the bill, and asked him to focus on the legislation. Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the House, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s attack on PM Modi asked for an apology and demanded the expulsion of such remarks from his speech. Parliament Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned Rahul Gandhi and called his remarks un-parliamentary, and asked him to speak on the Bill under the rules of the proceedings.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a social media post that a very strange scene unfolded in the Lok Sabha today as the Congress, TMC, DMK, and Samajwadi Party did not allow the passage of the essential Constitution Amendment Bill for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Mr Shah stressed that rejecting the bill that would grant 33 percent reservation to women, celebrating it, and raising victory cries over it is truly reprehensible and beyond imagination.
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The One Hundred and Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam came into force yesterday. The Parliament passed the act in 2023, marking a historic milestone in its national journey to foster equitable representation of women in public life at all levels of the federal structure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his social media post, Sanskrit Subhashitam today asserted that feminine power is the hallmark of a strong India. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam notification has been issued to implement old laws that were not implemented earlier.
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Nominated member Harivansh has been elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third consecutive term. He was elected unopposed for the post. Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda moved the motion to choose Harivansh as the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House. The Office of the Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, fell vacant after the term of Harivansh ended on 9th of this month. President Droupadi Murmu had nominated him to the House following a vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
Speaking in the House after being elected as Deputy Chairman for the third time, Mr Harivansh acknowledged that differences and healthy debate are integral part of democracy and stressed that disruption has no place in parliamentary functioning.
Earlier, speaking in the House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harivansh for being elected as the Deputy Chairman for the third time.
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Campaigning for first phase of Assembly Elections in West Bengal and single phase in Tamil Nadu has intensified. In West Bengal, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari addressed public meetings in Purulia district. He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has neglected Purulia and failed to address the drinking water problem.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed a press conference in Kolkata and took part in rallies in support of party candidates. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed a public rally in Hemtabad in North Dinajpur district.
Trinamool Congress President and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held public meetings across North Bengal, South Bengal, and Kolkata, alleging that the BJP is trying to divide Bengal through constitutional amendments and delimitation. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee also addressed meetings.
CPI(M) leaders Mohammad Selim and Sujan Chakraborty also held public meetings in North Bengal.
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In Tamil Nadu, BJP leader K. Annamalai and MLA Vanathi Srinivasan today released a report on a model of constituency governance for Coimbatore South. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, campaigning in Salem, accused the DMK government of spreading false information on delimitation. DMK leader and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin held public meeting in Coimbatore, highlighting the party’s manifesto assurances.
Our correspondent takes a look at the Lalgudi seat of Tamil Nadu:
“Tiruchirappalli has a total electorate of 21 lakh 26 thousand 303 voters. Lalgudi has two lakh 11 thousand 43 voters. The district has nine Assembly constituencies. Lalgudi, Manachanallur, Musiri and Thuraiyur. Lalgudi benefits from fertile lands irrigated by Cauvery River, It is also known for traditional handicrafts and brassware production in the State. The constituency has a three cornered contest, as four times DMK MLA A.Soundarapandian is seeking reelection for the fifth time, Dr. Leema Rose Martin , a new entrant to the electoral politics is contesting in Lalgudi as IJK contestant, an alliance partner with NDA. Her son and son in law are also contesting in elections for the first time. The third contestant is former AIADMK Minister K.P.Krishnan who has joined the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam. This constituency was formed in 1952. DMK has won here ten times, AIADMK and Congress twice each. Joy/AKASHVANI NEWS /Chennai.”
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The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh today directed to file an FIR against the Congress MP from Rae Bareli and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in the dual citizenship case. A single bench of Justice Subhash Vidhyarthi observed that the claims made against Rahul Gandhi required examination and directed the Uttar Pradesh government to either conduct the investigation itself or refer the matter to a central agency.
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US President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping. In a social media post, Mr. Araghchi announced that the passage for all commercial vessels through the strait is completely open in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon. Minutes later, Mr. Trump also posted that Iran had declared the Strait of Hormuz open for full passage. The announcement comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.
Oil prices dropped more than 11 percent following the announcement. The strait had remained largely closed in recent weeks. The UK and France also hosted a multi-nation meeting on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz today.
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In Keralam, Amid scorching heat, the India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for hot and humid conditions in the state till Sunday. Maximum temperatures are likely to reach 40 degree Celsius in Palakkad district, 39 degree Celsius in Kollam, and 38 degree Celsius in Kottayam, while several other districts may record up to 37 degree Celsius, about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal.
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In Women’s Cricket, Hosts South Africa won the toss and opted to field against India in the first T20 International of the five-match series in Durban. The match will start at 9.30 PM, Indian Time.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- Constitution amendment bill to implement one third reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies fails in Lower House of Parliament.
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, opposition lost the historic opportunity of giving rights to women.
- Home Minister Amit Shah says, Congress will face wrath of women in polls.
- Campaigning for first phase of Assembly Elections in West Bengal and single phase in Tamil Nadu intensifies.
- Iran announces opening of Strait of Hormuz following Israel- Lebanon ceasefire.
- Oil prices drop more than 11 percent after the announcement.
- Met Department issues yellow alert for hot and humid conditions in Keralam till Sunday.
- In Women’s Cricket, first match of five match T20-I series between India and hosts South Africa to be played in Durban tonight.
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