BJP moots 33% quota for women

The BJP's women brigade on Saturday compelled the party leadership to modify LS Speaker Manohar Joshi's formula of 20% quota for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

The BJP's women brigade on Saturday compelled the party leadership to modify Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi's formula of 20 per cent quota for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

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When the original draft for 20 per cent reservation was initiated, the women delegates opposed the move and insisted for 33 per cent. The meeting then changed its draft and adopted a consensus resolution for 33 per cent. It said 33 per cent of Lok Sabha seats should be made double-member constituencies. One of the two seats should be reserved for women, which would change on a rotational basis. This would increase the total number of LS members by 181.

The Congress said it would only endorse a proposal that reserves 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. It rejected the move for double-member constituencies.