India, April 18 -- A Constitution amendment bill to expand the size of the Lok Sabha and fast-track 33% reservation for women failed to garner the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Friday, marking the first defeat of a government bill since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power in 2014.

The 131st Constitution amendment bill - which sought to raise the Lok Sabha ceiling to 850 and implement 33% reservation for women in time for the 2029 polls - was defeated by a united Opposition that didn't waiver despite a dramatic last-minute offer by Union home minister Amit Shah to incorporate a 50% proportional rise for all states into the bill.

The final tally in the Lok Sabha was 298-230, indicating that both camps g...