Cong favours women's bill in increased strength

Cong threw a spanner on BJP's plans to raise the present strength of LS and State assemblies by one-third to accommodate women members.

Congress on Saturday threw a spanner on BJP's plans to raise the present strength of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by one-third to accommodate women members, making it clear that it favoured 33 per cent reservation for women in the increased strength of the Houses.

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"In case they (Government) increase the strength of legislatures including Parliament, there must be one-third in terms of increased strength", party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters rejecting any proposal to dilute 33 per cent reservation for women.

Reddy's comments came close on the heels of BJP's national executive at Raipur passing a resolution favouring reservation of 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha as double-member constituencies to accommodate them. The proposal would increase 181 seats in the Lok Sabha which has a strength of 543.

Reddy was equally dismissive about BJP's attempts to seek Congress support on its plan to bring a legislation to facilitate construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

"BJP is not getting support from its allies. Asking for our support is meaningless. Our stand on the issue is very clear," he said suggesting that the ruling party would not get any help from it in the matter.