BJP on Monday said it would support Election Commission's proposal of making it binding on political parties to give quota to women in ticket distribution, marking a shift from its earlier position that this could be flouted and hence would not be effective.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who represented BJP in the all-party meeting on Women's Reservation Bill today, said her party would support the formula prescribed by M S Gill as Chief Election Commissioner. BJP has, however, put the onus of bringing any changes in the present Bill - which was passed in the Rajya Sabha in March - on the government. Party spokesperson Ramnath Kovind also toed the line taken by Swaraj, saying "We can think with an open mind on this issue."
A section of the party was till now opposed to this proposal as it felt political parties would field women candidates from seats in which it did not have a chance of winning, just to fulfil the requisite quota.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley had said during the debate on Women's Reservation Bill in the Upper House that this formula had not worked in Britain as women were fielded from constituencies in which the party had no chance of winning. The representation of women in the British House of Commons has not gone up due to this, he argued.
In today's all-party meeting Swaraj firmly said BJP would oppose the use of marshals when the Women's Reservation Bill comes up in Lok Sabha.
"We reiterate our support to the Women's Reservation Bill but we will oppose any attempt to pass it in the Lok Sabha in the presence of marshals," Kovind said.
Swaraj, while pitching for consensus on the issue, said BJP was "totally against quota within quota". PTI
