Women’s Bill: Jaya for two-seat constituencies
DH News Service Chennai:
Jaya noted that increasing the strength of Parliament or state legislatures as
per the proposed reservation was not feasible.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha on
Wednesday suggested that one-third of the seats in Parliament and State
legislatures be declared as two-member constituencies, with one seat going to
women, to get over the impasse over the 33 per cent reservation for women.
Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat, Jayalalitha said that
increasing the strength of Parliament and State legislatures in proportion to
the proposed reservation, as suggested by the Centre, was impracticable.
Instead, there could be two-member constituencies with one candidate from
general category and the other a woman. The constituencies could be rotated
every five years, she suggested.
“There should be reservation for backward classes among the seats reserved for
women,” she said and urged for an early adoption of the “long overdue” bill.
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment, giving a free hand to unaided private
professional colleges in admissions and barring States from imposing quotas,
Jayalalitha said her government would file a review petition in the apex court,
pointing out the 69 per cent reservation which was in force in the State and
which had been included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, to take it
out of judicial review.
She said states should have the power over admissions to private professional
colleges and the Centre should bring forward a law under Article 31B and 31C of
the Constitution, barring judicial review of legislation included in the Ninth
Schedule.
Welcoming the rural employment guarantee bill passed recently by Parliament that
assures 100 days employment for one member of a rural family every year,
Jayalalitha said major works like inter-linking of rivers should be undertaken
under this programme.
Ruling out early elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly before its tenure ending
in May next year, she dismissed the Opposition suggestion that the slew of
concessions she had been announcing were aimed at elections.
She said the AIADMK had an open mind on the question of alliance and it was too
early to talk about it. As of now, the party has no ally in the
[Deccan Herald, Thursday, August 25, 2005]
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug252005/national1432152005824.asp