Andhra Pradesh - Warangal   

LSP hails move on women quota bill

WARANGAL: The Lok Satta Party on Sunday welcomed the UPA government move to give reservations to women in legislative bodies as part of its 100-day programme.

In a statement issued here, Lok Satta district president Parcha Kodandarama Rao said that the bill to provide for women’s reservations had been introduced many times in the last 13 years but had not been passed apparently because most parties were not serious about it.

Studying lacunae in the bill proposed by various parties, the Lok Satta had in 1999 presented an alternative for consideration by all political parties.

It calls for an amendment to the Representation of the People Act making it mandatory for every recognised political party to field women candidates in one-third of constituencies.

To prevent a party from nominating women candidates only in States or constituencies where the party’s chances of winning are weak, the Lok Satta proposes that each party should consider the State as a unit for fielding women candidates in elections to the Lok Sabha.

In other words, a party has to field one-third of women candidates in every State.

A party’s failure to field the requisite number of women entails a penalty.

For the shortfall of every woman candidate, the party cannot field male candidates in two constituencies, Mr Kodandarama Rao explained.

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LSP hails move on women quota bill

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