‘Congress mentioned 59 times, women barely’: Mallikarjun Kharge slams Narendra Modi after Lok Sabha setback

Mallikarjun Kharge has accused Narendra Modi of turning his address to the nation into a political attack, alleging “mudslinging” and misuse of official machinery after the government’s Constitution amendment bill was defeated in Parliament.

In a post on X, Kharge described the Prime Minister’s speech as “full of mudslinging and outright lies,” claiming it lacked substantive achievements and instead targeted political opponents. He also alleged that the address violated the spirit of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of upcoming Assembly elections, calling it a “travesty of democracy.”

Bill defeated in Lok Sabha

The controversy follows the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill sought to expand the House from 543 to 850 seats and enable 33% reservation for women by the 2029 elections. While the government secured 298 votes, it fell short of the two-thirds majority as 230 Opposition MPs voted against it.

The proposal was linked to the implementation of the Women’s Reservation law passed in 2023 and required delimitation and census-related processes.

War of words over women’s reservation

In his address, Modi accused Opposition parties of blocking reforms aimed at empowering women and said he was “very sad” that some leaders allegedly celebrated the bill’s defeat. He also claimed the Opposition was “taking women for granted.”

Kharge countered that the speech disproportionately targeted the Congress, alleging that the Prime Minister mentioned the party far more than women’s issues. He reiterated that the Congress has historically supported women’s reservation, citing its role in earlier legislative efforts.

Kharge’s demands

The Congress president also outlined three key demands: immediate implementation of 33% reservation within the existing Lok Sabha seats, separation of delimitation from women’s reservation, and an apology from the Prime Minister to the public.

He further accused the ruling party of being “anti-women,” citing past incidents and alleging that the issue of women’s reservation was being used for political purposes.

Opposition pushback

Other Opposition leaders echoed similar criticism. Derek O’Brien said using women’s reservation as a “decoy” for delimitation was deeply problematic, accusing the government of misleading the public.

The exchange marks an escalation in political tensions following a rare legislative setback for the government, with both sides trading sharp accusations over women’s representation, electoral reforms, and political intent.