Bill to reserve seats for women lawmakers fails in India's lower house

India's lower house of Parliament has failed to pass a bill to implement reservation of a third of seats for women lawmakers.

The legislation, seen as a major change since independence, aimed to mandate 33% representation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

It was tied to a contentious plan to redraw voting boundaries, which became a sticking point.

The legislation tied to the women’s quota required approval by two-thirds of lawmakers but fell short.

The government later withdrew the proposal to expand the legislature.

While there is broad support for women’s reservation, opposition parties warn the boundary changes could tilt the political balance in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.