By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) became the first political party to give 33 percent reservation to women in its organisational structure here Monday. However, the party has not taken a decision on women’s reservation in its parliamentary board.
Announcing this proposal, BJP general secretary Sushma Swaraj said: “There will be seven amendments in the party’s constitution to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the organisation from the local unit to the state and central committee.”
The reservation will be applicable to the local, district and mandal committees, state and national working committees and also the central election committee of the party.
However, there will be no reservation for the post of chairpersons of these committees.
There will be no reservation in the parliamentary board of the party as well.”There was no unanimity in the party on this issue. But the impact of the reservations in the organisation will definitely be visible in the parliamentary board with passage of time,” Swaraj said.
The 33 percent reservation will also not be applicable while distributing tickets to candidates during elections.
The proposal was announced by party president Rajnath Singh and unanimously passed by the national council members of the party.
However, the present office-holders will not be removed to follow the reservation policy. “The number of women required to make it 33 percent will be added to the present committees while the men will continue till their term ends. From the next party elections the reservation norms will be followed,” Swaraj explained.
The idea was first mooted in June 2007 at the Baroda national executive meeting. Swaraj was made head of a committee to look into the feasibility and she submitted her report in the Bhopal session held in September 2007.
There have been murmurs of opposition within the rank and file of the right-wing party about the reservations. But since the party had decided to pass the resolution unanimously, the leaders kept their opinions to themselves.
Now the BJP is anticipating squabbles in other political parties on this issue. “Let us see how the Congress and other parties deal with this development,” said a senior leader.
“I am sure there will be pressure on Congress president Sonia Gandhi to present the reservation policy bill in parliament,” BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.