The BJP today took strong objection to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s statement accusing it of going back on its word on the women’s reservation bill and said the charge was ‘‘utterly baseless and false’’ and an attempt to cover up UPA’s own failure in securing consensus on the bill.At a specially convened press conference, BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said her party had assured home minister Shivraj Patil that except for the ‘‘quota within quota’’ option, the BJP would be willing to back ‘‘any proposal on which there was consensus.’’After the government failed to achieve consensus on either the original bill or the new bill (which envisages increasing the strength of Parliament and assemblies by one third), it called NDA leaders for a second round of discussions.At this meeting , the BJP pointed out that in view of sharp differences on the issue, an easier option would be to accept the Election Commission proposal. Since the proposal, which makes it mandatory for political parties to give one third tickets to women candidates, does not require a Constitution amendment, it would be simpler to implement.Repeating what she had said at a press conference after the PM’s meeting, Sushma Swaraj said, ‘‘I was earlier against the EC proposal because it does not guarantee one third seats for women. But since there has been no forward movement on the original bill for the last nine years, this seems the best option. It would at least force parties to look for women candidates and many more women would get elected than at present.’’Thomas quits NDANEW DELHI: The NDA lost yet another constituent on Friday with the lone member of the Indian Federal Democratic Party P.C. Thomas deciding to join the Kerala Congress. ‘‘He has left because of the peculiar circumstances in his home state of Kerala and not because he is unhappy with the BJP or NDA,’’ BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said. Thomas had met BJP chief L.K.Advani recently to convey his decision and the parting was ‘‘amicable,’’ she said.
