Congress Alleges BJP Seeks Two-Thirds Majority to End Reservations

The Congress party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of aiming for a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha specifically to amend the Constitution and abolish caste-based reservations. This claim was made by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in an interview with PTI Videos on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).

Ramesh argued that the BJP first intends to push through delimitation of constituencies under the guise of women's reservation, with the ultimate goal of ending reservation altogether. He stated, 'If the government is genuinely concerned about women's reservation, it should implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam on the current strength of 543 seats in the next general elections scheduled for 2029.'

The Congress leader alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah's recent efforts to split opposition parties, such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT), are aimed at securing a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. Ramesh said this validates the Congress's 2024 campaign claim that the BJP wanted '400 paar' seats to 'amend the Constitution and finish off reservation.'

When questioned about the spate of defections from opposition parties, Ramesh attributed them to what he called the 'humiliation' of Amit Shah on April 17 in the Lok Sabha. He claimed that Shah had promised Prime Minister Narendra Modi he would get three delimitation bills passed but could only muster 298 votes. 'Shah thought he could brazen it out and bulldoze his way through, but his bluff was called,' Ramesh said.

Ramesh further asserted that the BJP's immediate target is the delimitation bill, but the 'real target' is ending reservation. He pointed to statements by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has previously suggested doing away with reservations, and RSS leaders who have spoken against the policy. 'Delimitation is the first milestone they want to pass, but there are three more years left for this government,' he added.

The Congress general secretary also referenced historical opposition to the Constitution, noting that on November 26, 1949, when the Constitution was adopted, the Organiser (a publication linked to the RSS) attacked it, and effigies of Jawaharlal Nehru, B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi were burnt. He implied that the BJP shares a similar discomfort with the Constitution.

Ramesh clarified that the opposition parties' united vote against the delimitation bills was not against women's reservation but against delimitation itself. 'The home minister was humiliated, and the PM was angry. He criticized the Congress, saying it is because of the Congress that women's reservation is not being delivered. But the Congress has always said that women's reservation should be on 543 seats,' he concluded.