The multi-member panel system proposed by Congress for implementation of the reservation has been rejected by NCP.
The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) find themselves at the cross roads, unable to work out a formula for smooth implementation of 50% reservation for women in the local bodies elections.
Having passed the act in the budget session Congress and NCP are banging their heads against the walls as they are unable to evolve a way out that would ensure justice to both male and female candidates. The cabinet on Wednesday rejected the proposal of multi-member panel for the municipal corporation elections across state except Mumbai. The proposal which was debated at the cabinet meeting would constitute four wards as one panel. The minister for parliamentary affairs Harshvardhan said, “If we have four-ward panel two seats could be reserved for women and two for men. If any seat is reserved for SC/ST or OBC it would also be accommodated in the multi-member panel.”
However, the NCP raised the objection arguing two-ward panel would be ideal instead of four ward panel. Unable to decide the 50% division of seats for male and female candidates the cabinet finally left it to the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to rework the formula.
Sources in the NCP said, “The multi-member panel system is the idea of the Congress as it is better at managing similar type of panels. But the NCP would prefer an individual ward system. At the most they would have no objections to a two-ward unit.”
The 50% women reservations will have to be enforced in the local body elections beginning from November. The elections for 27 zilla parishads, ten municipal corporations and 300 panchayats across the state are due to take place soon.
Having failed to take a formal decision, the issue will be discussed at the party levels. The ruling parties also held a coordination committee meeting at night pledging to work together. The NCP chief Madhukar Pichhad said, “ There are issues like the water bill which was a policy decision taken by the government but the Congress blamed it on the NCP. Such politics does not auger well for the coalition.” On its part the NCP has problems related to slow administrative decisions taken by Chavan. The coalition faces many problems as they could not agree on a formula to enforce the 50% women’s quota. The NCP rejected the Congress’ proposal of having a multi-member panel system at the cabinet meeting.
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