Pawar wants 50% reservation for women at legislative level

Union agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, on Monday, called for 50% reservation for women at the union and state legislative level.

Union agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, on Monday, called for 50% reservation for women at the union and state legislative level. Pawar, who is not known to be a fan of the Nehru-Gandhi family, also said India needed more women leaders like Indira Gandhi.

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Addressing the NCP’s regional women’s meet on Monday, Pawar said, “Paving the way for wider political participation by women would only translate into better governance. We plan to take our party’s role ahead in extending support to 50% reservation at the legislative level.”

Explaining the vital role Maharashtra has played in implementing 50% reservation for women in local self government bodies, Pawar said, “If we do not succeed in including women in responsible positions at the societal level, then their empowerment should be achieved through reservations”.

Maharashtra has had 33% reservation for women from 1994, which was expanded to 50% last year.