Akhilesh Yadav bats for 25% reservation for women

Adopting a softer stand on the women's reservation bill, Samajwadi Party MP and Uttar Pradesh state unit chief Akhilesh Yadav said his party could support the move if the reservation is brought down to 25 from 33 per cent.

Adopting a softer stand on the women's reservation bill, Samajwadi Party MP and Uttar Pradesh state unit chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said his party could support the move if the reservation is brought down to 25 from 33 per cent.

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"The percentage should be decreased from 33 to 25. Then only can our party consider supporting the women's reservation bill in Parliament," Yadav told reporters in Barabanki district, 40 km from in Lucknow.

Akhilesh, son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, said: "The SP (Samajwadi Party) is not completely against the women's reservation bill. The party is just opposes it in its present form and want certain changes."

On the party's relations with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, he said: "Though SP has provided outside support to the UPA government, the party will not hesitate in going against it, if UPA fails to keep its promises."

"A decision in this regard will be taken after monitoring the 100-day performance of the UPA government."