Women's reservation bill brews revolt in BJP

New Delhi, Mar 11: The Women's Reservation Bill which was passed in the Rajya Sabha with the backing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is finding it difficult to muster support from the partymen to achieve passage in Lok Sabha.

Several media reports have emerged telling the tale of a split in BJP over the controversial bill, which reserves 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

BJP MPs have reportedly launched a revolt against the bill, which was supported by the senior leaders in the upper house.

As per a CNN-IBN report, MPs have told BJP senior leaders that no whip should be issued to vote in favour of the bill as it may be defied.

The Times of India newspaper, which also reported on the brewing dissidence, has specualted the reasons for this divide.

The newspaper published a report on Thursday, Mar 11 suggesting that the anti-quota faction of BJP took birth from the frustration that the UPA government has succesfully divided the Opposition, just about the time when all of them were coming together to gang up against the Congress-led government over rising prices and its US policy.

The bill is expected to be brought up in the Lok Sabha after a month-long recess, which starts Mar 15 and ends on Apr 12.

OneIndia News