Lok Satta opposes rotation of Women seats in local bodies

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Government of India’s move to amend the Constitution to provide for 50 percent reservations to women in both rural and urban local bodies.

The party, however, took exception to the move to rotate the seats to be reserved for women as it will deprive a woman elected to an office the opportunity to nurse the constituency since she cannot contest from the same constituency the next time. Every election will witness half of the incumbents being forcibly unseated.

Talking to the media, party spokespersons Mrs. K. Geeta Murthy, Mrs. Y. Rama Devi, Mrs. S. Manorama suggested that the Government should make it mandatory for political parties to field women from 50 percent of seats in local bodies taking the district or an Assembly constituency as the unit. A party’s failure to field the requisite number of women candidates in a district or an Assembly constituency should entail a penalty. Women must have the opportunity to be reelected to office.

The Lok Satta leaders once again underlined the need for devolution of powers, resources and personnel on local bodies in tune with the constitutional amendments. Mere elections and reservations would not empower local bodies.

The party also suggested that all women elected to office both in rural and urban areas should be given training so that they could do justice to their jobs and grow into future leaders of the country.