As the Rajya Sabha passed the women's reservation Bill today, parties in Maharashtra welcomed the step, with NCP saying it was carrying forward of a similar initiative implemented by then chief minister Sharad Pawar in local self-government bodies in the state in 1992.
"Rajya Sabha has started a new chapter in the political history of the country by passing the bill," NCP said in a statement here. "NCP thanks all MPs who supported the bill," it said.
Women in Maharashtra have shown their prowess in local self-government bodies, benefiting from reservation, NCP said.
"It was NCP chief Sharad Pawar who as CM in 1992 first implemented the decision to have reservation for women in local self-government bodies," the party said. "Parliament has put stamp of approval on this step taken by Pawar," it said.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe told PTI that the bill would help increase women's political participation and benefit a large chunk of the population.
Sena chief Bal Thackeray and executive president Uddhav Thackeray should be thanked for directing party MPs to support the bill, Gorhe said.
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