BJP may consider EC proposal

NEW DELHI: While the Bharatiya Janata Party supported the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form, it could favourably consider the Election Commission proposal for making it mandatory for political parties to give one-third of all election ticket to women candidates. The second option would then make the issue of sub-quotas irrelevant as parties would be free to choose backward or other caste candidates or Muslim women, leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj told reporters. It was also clear the BJP was of the view that the EC option, also favoured by the Shiv Sena, would be able to get the required consensus.

The catch is, the Left parties are opposed to leaving this matter to political parties as they believe the EC formula will not increase women's representation. Basudev Acharia (CPI-M) and Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) favour the Bill in its present form and want the government to have it passed in the coming session without any further delay. However, Mr. Acharia said the Constitution did not permit the creation of sub-quotas for the backward castes, but if the government were to find a way to accommodate this view, the Left would look into it.