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Nationalist Congress Party, an UPA on Thursday has raked up the issue of Women's Reservation Bill and argued that it will be a game changer in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
NCP chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said he has already held talks with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to take up the bill during coming winter session or budget session of the parliament for its passage. Pawar sees women reservation will be equally important to regain voters'confidence.
Pawar revealed that both the Prime Minister and Congress President have agreed to do take upp the bill for its passage in the Lok Sabha. NCP chief however, said that those opposing the 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be exposed during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
Pawar, who was speaking at the sidelines of the NCP's rally organised by its wing for young girls, said all efforts will be made to bring on board opposition parties and especially those opposing the bill. ''NCP since beginning is supporting 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The government has fulfilled its promise to put in place a women's bank.
Besides, various banks and financial institutions are headed by women. However, Lok Sabha not yet voted on the women reservation bill. I raised this issue with the Prime Minister and Congress President while travelling to Delhi after the inauguration of women's bank on Tuesday and they are agreed to take it up,'' he informed.
Pawar clearly indicated that women reservation will be one of the key electoral planks. ''Voters may vote against those opposing the women's reservation," he noted.
Pawar's timing is crucial when Congress and its allies are engaged in countering Modi led campaign against UPA and its alleged misrule.
Apart from the Congress Party and NCP, the BJP, the Left Front, the DMK and the AIADMK support the bill. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, BSP and the JD (U) have reservations. On the other hand, Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal are bitterly opposed to the bill.
The bill envisages reservation of seats in rotation for women to be determined by draw of lots in such a way that a seat will be reserved only once in three consecutive general elections. The Upper House Rajya Sabha had passed the bill on March 9, 2010.
