Women’s reservation is a long-pending electoral reform which cries out for attention. Political parties talk of women’s reservation during the time of elections, but once the dust settles, settle down to business as usual. The Women’s Reservation Bill has not yet been passed by Parliament for reasons best known to the political class. But the main reason is obvious — the male-dominated political class does not want to share the spoils of power. With women now an important part of every field, one is sure that the party which promises women’s reservation is sure to get women’s support. In this connection, one waits to see how the Trinamool Congress’s move plays out (“Mamata surprises with 17 women, 17 new faces”, March 13).
Sravana Ramachandran,
Chennai