50% quota for women in civic bodies?

Municipal elections in 2012, political parties in state jump on women's reservation bandwagon

50% quota for women in civic bodies?

Municipal elections in 2012, political parties in state jump on women's reservation bandwagon

Wooing the fairer sex: Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal with MLC Vandana Chavan, a corporator and women social activists
PIC/VIVEK SABNIS

In a public meeting on the eve of Women's Day, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan yesterday promised to table a resolution effecting 50 per cent reservation for women in civic bodies and local self-government bodies. If the resolution is passed, then its benefits will percolate to 10 municipal corporations and 27 zilla parishads in the state.

Among the first to vouch his support and commitment to the proposal was Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal.

Rajpal has organised a women's meet today and will give away saris and electronic gadgets to the winners of various awards. "We are wholeheartedly supporting the CM," said Rajpal. "Even before, our party never held any gender bias. In 1995, NCP founder and president Sharad Pawar himself had initiated 33 per cent reservation for women in the state's local self government bodies.

Another NCP member of legislative council (MLC) Vandana Chavan also supported the CM.u00a0

u00a0"I am from the first lot of women corporators in 1992 when 30 per cent reservation was already in existence," Vandana Chavan said. She demanded that there should be 50 per cent reservations for the posts of MLAs and MLCs also. "The reservation should be applicable in all political elections," she said.

BJP' newly elected Standing Committee Chairman Ganesh Bidkar and BJP leader in the PMC house Mukta Tilak also welcomed the CM's announcement.

Shiv Sena MLC and official spokesperson Dr Neelam Gorhe said there was no provision in the constitution of civic bodies in the state for 50 per cent reservation. "Such provision is already there in the Zilla Parishads in the state," she said.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Corporator and party leader Ravindra Dhangekar said, " I am sure that our leader Raj Thackeray is in favour of 50 per cent reservation and he will announce his stand soon."u00a0u00a0

Noted social activist Vidya Bal asked why the chief minister had chosen Women's Day to make the announcement? If he is making the promise to woo voters, then he should keep it without fail in the coming assembly session. "We are all supporting the 50 per cent reservation which is our long pending demand," she said.

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