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Journalism of Courage
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa today came up with her own formula on women8217;s reservation, suggesting that 33 per cent of seats in Parliament and state legislatures be converted into 8220;double-member8221; constituencies.
8220;Reservation for women should be provided not within the existing strength but by adding to it 33 per cent,8221; she said. While it was not possible at 8220;this juncture8221; to redraw the boundaries of the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, she said the additional 33 per cent seats must be brought in by the concept of 8220;double-member8221; constituencies 8212; which is one seat for electing a general member and another for electing a women member in the designated constituencies. The 8220;double-member8221; constituencies could be decided on the basis of rotation, she told reporters here.
Pointing out that reservation was 8220;a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu8221;, the CM demanded that existing reservation levels for various communities, including backward castes, in the state be implemented within the 33 per cent seats reserved for women.
She rejected SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav8217;s suggestion of reserving 10 per cent of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures. 8220;We are firm that it should be 33 per cent,8221; Jayalalithaa said.
