Nitish reversed near consensus for BJP: CPI

The Nitish Kumar government8217;s decision to reserve 50 per cent of panchayat seats for women drew flak from the CPI today which said a decision to hold local body elections on party lines was bypassed at the behest of the BJP.

The CPI said the CM had 8216;8216;reversed8217;8217; the consensus arrived at an all-party meeting on December 28. 8216;8216;Nitish has virtually made a mockery of the near consensus evolved during the all-party meeting where leaders across party lines favoured holding the elections to local bodies on party lines,8217;8217; state CPI secretary Badri Narain Lal said in a press release.

The BJP, meanwhile, described the decision as a 8216;8216;historic and progressive step8217;8217;. 8216;8216;The 50 per cent reservation for women and 20 per cent for ebcs will bring about a social revolution and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar deserves to be thanked for it,8217;8217; state BJP president Sushil Kumar Modi said. 8212; PTI