http://timesofindia
Road cleared for 33% reservation of all MP, MLA seats for women
Himanshi Dhawan, TNN, Feb 26, 2010, 12.34am IST
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the women's
reservation bill which has been hanging fire for close to 14 years.
And this time, the bill might go through in Parliament as the
Congress, BJP and the Left have pledged support to it. The three
parties put together add up to the necessary two-thirds majority in
Lok Sabha for the constitutional amendment, and falls manageably short
in Rajya Sabha.
In short, astute floor management by the Congress in the 15th Lok
Sabha could see 33% of all seats in Parliament and state assemblies
being reserved for women. Such large women representation in the
legislatures could not only change the emphasis in policies but also
alter the very nature of politics in India.
This gender-bender of a move by the Congress leadership has been aided
by the absence of parties like Lalu Prasad's RJD in the UPA and the
reduced relevance of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both
OBC chieftains have relentlessly opposed the bill demanding that
one-third of the proposed women's bill be earmarked for OBCs and
minorities.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav is another opponent, but BJP, Congress and
Left can help carry the day. They can also bank on the DMK which, once
a backer of the "quota-within-
that the priority is to get the gender quota introduced, while other
details are negotiated later.
If the bill is to become reality, it will require a Constitutional
amendment. For that the bill must get the vote of two thirds of the
members present and voting, but not less than majority mark of the
House. The government -- having cleared the bill -- is not bound by
fresh recommendations or dissent notes made by the standing committee
on law and justice which submitted its report in December 2009.
The bill can be placed for consideration and passing in the form that
it was introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2008 and for this reason is likely
to be placed for consideration in the Upper House first. The
government needs 158 votes to meet the two-thirds mark in Rajya Sabha.
The Congress, BJP and Left add up to 137 MPs in this house, a little
short of requisite figure. It is here that some clever floor
management would be necessary.
Once cleared by the Upper House, the bill is as good as through,
because in the Lok Sabha the three blocs virtually have the requisite
numbers. The government also has the option of holding a joint session
of both Houses as NDA had done to pass the anti-terror POTA bill.
The government managers would also be counting on the support of the
DMK, some smaller groups and independents, as well as on the
possibility of BJD not likely to outright oppose the bill, to get its
numbers. DMK spokesman said T K Elangovan said, "Let the bill be
passed first, we will see quota within quota later."
Even AIADMK supports women's reservation "in principle", while Bihar
chief minister Nitish Kumar does not share the intensity of opposition
of his JD-U colleague Sharad Yadav. MPs, other those of the Congress,
BJP and the Left, who are support the bill in Rajya Sabha are, seven
of AIADMK, 12 of BSP and four of DMK -- sufficient for a two-thirds
majority. In Lok Sabha, the government can count on the support of 19
Trinamool MPs, 18 DMK and nine AIADMK MPs.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley welcomed the move saying his party would
support the proposed legislation in Parliament.
Expressing her party's support for the proposed legislation, CPM
leader Brinda Karat said, "We are glad the bill has got the cabinet
nod but this has happened before and the distance between thSources
said that the bill could be placed in Parliament in this session
itself as suggested by President Pratibha Patil in her address to the
joint sitting of Parliament. The UPA move is powered by the keen
interest of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in the bill. She has batted
strongly for it and has expressed her despair over the aggressive
opposition in Parliament.
If it does actually become law, it will be a fitting tribute by
Congress for the year-long centenary celebrations of International
Women's Day this year. Given the huge political point to be scored,
BJP and Left are unlikely to be found wanting. It is not clear whether
smaller regional parties like BJD or DMK will oppose it outright. Even
if parties like Mayawati's BSP support the bill, it will go through.
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