Undeterred by opposition from smaller parties, including some of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's allies, the government is all set to push ahead the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, more than three years after it was first introduced in the House.
The Bill, which, if adopted, will ensure 33 per cent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures, has met with opposition from several parties in its existing form. These parties favour a variation of the Bill which, in place of direct reservation, would enjoin upon political parties to accord reservation at party level at the time of ticket distribution.
Talking to reporters on Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj exuded confidence over the Bill being adopted on Tuesday.
The decision to table the bill in the Lok Sabha was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee presided over by Speaker Manohar Joshi. Four hours have been alloted for discussion on the Bill.
Among the main opponents of the Bill are Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Swaraj said though there are differences over the nature of reservation, all political parties, except RJD, were in favour of reservation to women in some form or the other.
She said while the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) favour the Bill in its current form, the Shiv Sena, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Samata Party favour reservations for women at party level.
A few fence-sitters like the Janata Dal (United) and the Telegu Desam Party are hoping that the Bill will not reach the voting stage.
The JD-U, the Samata Party, the Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal are constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, while the TDP is an important NDA supporter.
Shiv Sena leader in the Lok Sabha Chandrakant Khaire expressed unhappiness with the government's attempts to team up with the Congress to get the Bill passed. "For all other issues they want our support, but now on this issue when we do not agree with them, they are running to the Congress." Khaire said.