BJP wants a special Parliament date

The Narendra Modi-led BJP government might now be looking into turning a legislative defeat into a show of strength, with renewed discussions around a special session in Parliament before winter to push the delimitation-linked women's reservation bill.The talks surrounding a renewed Parliament session ahead of winter, come as the BJP continues to work for widening its political support, rebuilding alliances ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections and build a response to the Opposition and youth-outfit led-protests that have brought opposition parties, students and farmers onto the streets.In April, the government's Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was looking to advance the implementation of 33% reservation for women in legislatures, fell short of the required two-thirds majority in the lower house. The government received 298 votes against the 352 required in the division, limiting the NDA's strength despite its majority.As the year-end approaches, the government is again looking at the possibility of bringing the bill back, this time with a different assessment of the numbers.According to a report by The Indian Express, a senior Union minister (not named by the publication) said that a special sitting could be convened before the Winter Session. A senior BJP MP told the newspaper that the government believed it could secure the required numbers, including by addressing concerns raised by parties such as the DMK.The possibility of reconvening Parliament before the Winter Session has also been publicly acknowledged by Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. In an interview with India Today in August, he indicated the government might call in another sitting, saying the Monsoon Session had not been prolonged.Asked specifically whether a special session was possible, he responded, "You can read both ways." While he stopped short of confirming any such plan, his remarks offered an early public indication that the government was keeping the option open.A busy electoral calendar aheadSeven states — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh — are scheduled to go to the polls in 2027. Elections in the first five are expected in February-March, while Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will vote towards the end of the year.The BJP governs five of these states, while Punjab is ruled by the AAP and Himachal Pradesh by the Congress. Uttar Pradesh, with 403 Assembly seats, will be particularly important for the BJP, which will face the Samajwadi Party and its allies.A successful passage of the women's reservation and delimitation package would give the government a major legislative outcome to present ahead of these contests. It would also allow the BJP to argue that it has secured support beyond its formal alliance for a significant constitutional change.The legislation, however, remains contentious, particularly in southern states, where parties have sought guarantees that population control will not translate into reduced political representation. The BJP's efforts to engage the DMK and other non-NDA parties will therefore be central to the negotiations.The government has not officially announced a special session, and the possibility of taking up the Bills during the Winter Session remains open.The arithmetic behind the renewed pushThe NDA alliance currently has 320 members in the Lok Sabha and 155 in the Rajya Sabha, reportedly. With all members, it still remains 40 short in the lower house and six in the upper house, to reach the required two-thirds majority.Securing support from the DMK still remains a hurdle for the NDA, as the party is seeking a written assurance from the Centre that Tamil Nadu's share of parliamentary representation would not decline. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has also sought a legislative guarantee that southern states will not lose their relative representation for having stabilised population growth.Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has challenged the government's assessment. In September, he said the NDA remained at least 26 members short of the required majority and accused the government of repeatedly floating reports of a special session. In November, he alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah had informally told journalists that a three-day special session would be called and the Bills would pass by a margin of 15–18 votes. The claim about Shah's remarks has not been independently confirmed.The government is also approaching the second attempt against a changing political backdrop. The opposition remains opposed to linking the implementation of women's reservation with delimitation.The Samajwadi Party's 37 Lok Sabha MPs had voted against the constitutional amendment in April. BJP leaders have suggested that the party may find it difficult to oppose a delimitation exercise that could increase Uttar Pradesh's representation.The BJP is also pointing to changes in the opposition's parliamentary strength…