The Narendra Modi government’s attempt to pass three bills, including a contentious one on delimitation to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to up to 850 members from the present 543, was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The bills included a constitutional amendment that the government said was aimed at introducing women’s reservation in legislatures from 2029.

A total of 298 MPs backed the measure and 230 opposed it; the total fell short of the required two-thirds majority needed. Out of 528 members who voted, 352 votes were required for a two-thirds majority.

According to the Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Seats were also to be increased in states and Union Territory Assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

"Will make sure that women get reservation in legislatures. The Modi government’s struggle to give rights to women will continue. Opposition loses historic opportunity to honour women," said Union minister Kiren Rijiju after the bills were defeated in the Lok Sabha.

The Opposition, which had insisted that it was ready to help implement women’s reservation in legislatures if it was decoupled from the controversial delimitation exercise, cheered the government’s failure.

“Tamil Nadu defeats Delhi,” said Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, who had called the delimitation bill a “black law”.

"I want to tell the PM that if he wants women's reservation, he should bring the 2023 law and the entire Opposition will support it," said Rahul Gandhi, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.