Parliament Deadlock Deepens as Key Bills Hang in Balance, Monsoon Session Nears Washout

With only four days left in the Monsoon Session, the government and Opposition remain locked in a political standoff, leaving the fate of major legislation on women’s reservation, delimitation and foreign funding uncertain.

The immediate trigger for the continuing disruption is the Opposition’s demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah over police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak issue. Congress has maintained that the deadlock will continue until Shah addresses the matter.

The government, meanwhile, has been trying to build support for the Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Bills. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and also spoke to him over the phone, seeking Congress support for the proposals. Gandhi insisted on an all-party meeting before the legislation is taken up. Congress has also opposed linking the implementation of women’s reservation with delimitation.

The government faces a major numbers challenge. The constitutional amendment supporting the proposals was defeated in April, receiving 298 votes in favour and 230 against, short of the required two-thirds majority. The NDA’s strength has since risen marginally to 299 after seven Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, but the government remains well short of the roughly 360 votes required. It therefore needs support from outside the NDA.

Some parties have taken differing positions. The Shiromani Akali Dal has backed the women’s reservation and delimitation proposals, while the DMK has opposed delimitation. NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has said her party will discuss the issue with its alliance partners.

The FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, has emerged as another contentious measure. Introduced in March, it proposes a detailed mechanism for the custody, management and disposal of assets linked to foreign contributions when an organisation’s FCRA registration ends. The government says this will protect foreign-funded assets, prevent misuse and ensure they continue to serve public purposes.

Opposition parties and NGOs fear the provisions could give the executive excessive control over independent organisations and their assets. Sule has sought withdrawal of the Bill or referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

The session, which began on July 20, has witnessed repeated disruptions, although some legislation has cleared the Houses, including the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

With major political differences unresolved and the government still short of the numbers needed for the constitutional amendment, the remaining days of the session could end in further confrontation, with key bills potentially pushed to the Winter Session.