The saffron party is targeting the DMK, SP and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) to cross the 360-seat mark, aiming for major constitutional changes including women's reservation and delimitation.

The BJP leadership has quietly accelerated its 'Mission 360' strategy — a push to secure a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha that would allow the government to push through key constitutional reforms. The move comes after the party faced a setback on April 17 over legislation related to women's reservation and delimitation.

The target, according to sources, is to achieve the numbers before the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The NDA's strength is now reportedly at 319 MPs, following claims that 20 Trinamool Congress MPs and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs have shifted their support. But that still leaves the alliance 41 MPs short of the 360-member two-thirds majority, based on the current effective strength of the House.

Who the BJP Is Targeting

The party is now focusing on three key opposition groups — the Samajwadi Party (37 MPs), the DMK (22 MPs), and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP (8 MPs). A senior BJP leader from Maharashtra reportedly claimed that, apart from Supriya Sule, most NCP (Sharad) MPs are supportive of the NDA.

Government sources, however, maintain that they are engaging with all political parties on legislative issues.

Two Possible Strategies

According to the report, the BJP is exploring multiple political options to build the required numbers:

Option 1: Add 41 more MPs — Secure support through defections, mergers, or outside backing from opposition MPs to reach the two-thirds majority.

Option 2: Reduce effective House strength — If enough opposition MPs remain absent during voting, the effective strength of the Lok Sabha would decline, reducing the two-thirds threshold. The BJP is reportedly looking at MPs from the SP, DMK, NCP (Sharad), TMC, along with independents and smaller parties. If required, some Congress MPs could also be absent during crucial votes.

What Mission 360 Aims to Achieve

The strategy is built around four major constitutional objectives:

Delimitation: Increase Lok Sabha seats by around 50% across states, potentially expanding the House to nearly 850 seats.

Women's Reservation: Implement one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies after delimitation, beginning with the 2029 elections.

One Nation, One Election: Enable simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections through constitutional amendments.

Judicial and Constitutional Reforms: Pursue broader reforms, including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and other measures requiring constitutional amendments.

Former Rajya Sabha Secretary-General Vivek Agnihotri said constitutional amendments for measures such as women's reservation, delimitation, and one nation, one election require a two-thirds majority in Parliament. He noted that the Constitution envisages delimitation after 2026, and if it is postponed again, another constitutional amendment would be needed.

Supreme Court lawyer Virag Gupta said women's reservation could provide a politically acceptable framework for expanding the number of Lok Sabha seats through delimitation while facilitating broader constitutional reforms.

The government has not officially confirmed the strategy, but political observers say the BJP's moves in recent weeks suggest a coordinated effort to consolidate numbers before the monsoon session begins.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Sees Heated Exchanges Over 33% Women's Reservation

A special session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly turned into a war of words on Wednesday after the state government tabled a resolution demanding 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha following the delimitation exercise. While the ruling BJP called it a historic step towards women's empowerment, the opposition Congress dismissed it as an "election gimmick".

The session began with the government moving the official resolution. Over 500 women public representatives from municipalities, corporations and panchayats across the state had been invited to witness the proceedings. But before the debate could pick up steam, the two sides were already at each other's throats.

Congress Calls Reservation a 'Poll Stunt'

Leader of Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahant tried to bring an unofficial resolution on women's empowerment, but Speaker Dr. Raman Singh declared it inadmissible. Soon after, Congress legislator Anila Bhedia launched a scathing attack on the government.

"This reservation bill is nothing but an election jhunjhuna (rattle)," Bhedia said inside the House. "The bill was passed in 2023 but was never implemented. The BJP is at the centre, but they don't have the courage to give 33 per cent reservation on 543 Lok Sabha seats." She accused the ruling party of humiliating women while pretending to stand up for their rights.

Deputy CM Hits Back Over Promises

The debate quickly turned personal and loud. After Bhedia raised the issue of crimes against women, including the rape of a three-year-old girl in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw responded sharply.

"Congress promised to give Rs 500 to women in their manifesto. What face do they have to talk about women's rights today?" Saw said, his voice rising. He also took a dig at the opposition for raising the women's reservation issue while allegedly doing little for their safety when they were in power. The back-and-forth continued for several minutes, with members from both sides interrupting each other.

'We Gave Maximum Opportunities', Claims Opposition

Amid the chaos, Congress legislators pointed to their own record, claiming they had actually given more political space to women than the BJP. Numbers were thrown across the aisle. According to figures cited by opposition members, the BJP has just 8 women MLAs out of 54, while Congress has 11 women legislators out of 35.

"The Congress party has truly provided opportunities to women. You cannot take that away from us," a Congress member said, triggering loud protests from the treasury benches. Women legislators from both sides got into a heated argument over who had done more.

 From Cylinder Prices to Women's Safety

The discussion also drifted to household issues like cooking gas prices. Congress legislator Sangita Sinha pointed out that the government had promised to provide cylinders for Rs 500. In response, ruling party members cited the ongoing conflict in Iran as a reason for price hikes, which drew sharp criticism from the opposition.

At one point, Bhedia also referenced the Manipur violence and the Unnao case, accusing the Prime Minister of "putting tape on his mouth" when atrocities against women were happening. "Which woman is safe in this country today?" she asked the House.

Speaker Dr. Raman Singh repeatedly tried to restore order, but the session remained noisy throughout. The government insisted that the resolution was a serious effort for women's empowerment, while the opposition stuck to its position that it was merely a political move ahead of elections.

No vote was taken on the resolution by the time this report was filed, with debate still ongoing.

BJP to Launch Statewide Protests Over Women’s Reservation Bill Impasse

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced a special Madhya Pradesh Assembly session and a series of rallies to protest the opposition's role in the defeat of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill.

CM Criticises Opposition Conduct

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the opposition following the defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Speaking at the BJP state headquarters in Bhopal, Yadav described the legislative setback as a "dark day for democracy."

The Chief Minister compared the parliamentary disruption to historical injustices, stating that the manner in which the dignity of women was handled in the temple of democracy was deeply painful. He noted that the Modi government had provided every opportunity for dialogue, yet the bill fell short of the required two-thirds majority.

Statewide Aakrosh Rallies Planned

To take the issue to the public, the BJP has announced a massive 'Nari Shakti Vandan' foot march starting Monday. This movement is part of the Latest News Today regarding the party's strategy to corner the Congress-led opposition across all districts of Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister confirmed that the agitation would be phased, beginning with local demonstrations and moving up to municipal levels. "The government and the party will not sit idle; we are going to the people’s court to expose those who snatched away the rights of our sisters," Yadav told reporters.

Special Assembly Session Proposed

In a significant move for India News Update, the Chief Minister announced that his government plans to convene a one-day special session of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. The session will focus exclusively on the Women’s Reservation issue and aim to pass a formal condemnation motion against the opposition.

"This is not just a political issue but a matter of national priority," Yadav remarked. He emphasized that the state’s legislative body must record its protest against the "anti-women mindset" displayed in Parliament during the voting process for the 850-seat expansion proposal.

BJP Questions Shift in Stance

The Chief Minister highlighted what he termed "political opportunism" by the opposition parties. He pointed out that many who supported the Act in 2023, when elections were looming, have now retracted their support when the time for implementation arrived.

According to officials present at the briefing, the BJP leadership believes the opposition is using the North-South seat disparity as a "baseless excuse" to stall progress. Yadav reiterated that the Home Minister had already clarified that seat increases would be proportionate and fair to all regions.

Organizational Support for Movement

The press conference saw the presence of several senior leaders, including BJP State President Hemant Khandelwal and National Vice President Rekha Verma. Khandelwal alleged that the opposition’s celebration after the bill failed was a direct insult to the "half-population" of the country.

Rekha Verma added that women had been fighting for 33% reservation for 70 years. She claimed that while the Prime Minister and Home Minister made sincere efforts to grant these rights, the opposition’s resistance revealed their "true face" once the 2024 General Elections concluded.

Impact on Local Governance

The protest strategy involves passing condemnation resolutions at every level of local governance, including Nagar Nigams, Municipalities, and Nagar Panchayats. This grassroots approach aims to make the Women’s Reservation Bill a central theme in the English News Portal India landscape.

Political analysts suggest that by taking the fight to the local bodies, the BJP intends to consolidate its woman voter base ahead of upcoming local polls. The party plans to highlight the Congress's past record on issues like Triple Talaq to bolster its narrative of being the sole protector of women's interests.

Future Legislative Outlook

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill required 352 votes to pass but secured only 298. Despite the numerical setback in the Lok Sabha, the MP government maintains that the struggle for the Public Interest Story of women's empowerment will continue through public awareness.

As the 'Nari Shakti Vandan' yatra rolls out across the state, the political climate in Madhya Pradesh is expected to remain heated. The Chief Minister’s firm stance indicates that the BJP will use this legislative hurdle as a major plank for its upcoming outreach programs in this Trending News India development.

Lok Sabha Seats to Rise to 850 as Women's Reservation Bill Tabled

Opposition questions hike in Lok Sabha seats to 850 as women's reservation and delimitation bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, triggering sharp exchanges and a division vote before discussions began.

Bills Tabled in House

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, was introduced after a division yielded 251 votes in favour and 185 against. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the main amendment, while Home Minister Amit Shah presented the UT Bill. Fifteen hours have been set aside for debate on April 16 and 17, with voting scheduled for 4 pm on Friday.

Heated Debate in House

Opposition parties, including Congress, DMK and Samajwadi Party, opposed the clubbing of the three bills and the move to link women's reservation with fresh delimitation. They argued the process bypassed a fresh census and could tilt representation towards populous northern states.

Congress Questions Seat Hike

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi challenged the government on the figure of 850 seats, asking how the number was arrived at without a census or parliamentary paper. He said the party supported women's reservation but wanted it delinked from delimitation so it could be implemented immediately. Gogoi also accused the Centre of reluctance to conduct a caste census.

Akhilesh Pushes for Census

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that his party backed women's reservation but demanded a census first to ensure fair representation, especially for women from backward classes and Muslim communities. He criticised the BJP for turning the issue into a “slogan” and questioned the absence of women in key positions within the ruling party's ideological parent organisation. Home Minister Amit Shah replied that religion-based reservation was unconstitutional and that the ongoing census would include caste enumeration.

Amit Shah Hits Back

Shah told the House that all three bills were essential to give effect to the women's reservation law. He said the Opposition had pre-decided to oppose the measures and was creating unnecessary uproar. Shah added that the Samajwadi Party was free to field Muslim women candidates if it wished and that the government had no objection.

BJP Defends Delimitation Plan

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya called the framework a “great deal” for southern states and accused the Opposition of spreading fear and misinformation in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai asserted that delimitation would not be based on the 2011 census alone and could raise the state's Lok Sabha seats from 39 to 59. He dismissed protests by DMK chief MK Stalin as politically motivated.

Focus on Women's Empowerment

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal described the bills as a historic step, quoting Dr B R Ambedkar on measuring a community's progress by the status of its women. The proposal reserves 273 seats, or one-third of the expanded House, for women, including sub-quotas for SC and ST women. The reservation will operate for 15 years initially, with rotation of seats. The current Lok Sabha has 75 women members.

The bills seek to raise the Lok Sabha's strength from 543 to 850, with states getting up to 815 seats and Union Territories up to 35 after delimitation. A new Delimitation Commission, chaired by a serving or former Supreme Court judge, will redraw constituencies whose decisions will not be open to judicial review.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the House later on Thursday, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra scheduled to speak after him. The developments come nearly three decades after the women's reservation issue first gained traction and mark the first major legislative push to operationalise the 2023 law through delimitation.