The Hindu         10.03.2011

50% quota for women in local bodies in Maharashtra

In a move that would increase women's representation in politics, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to increase women's reservation in local body polls from 33 to 50 per cent.

The decision comes a day after Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said a bill proposing 50 per cent women's quota in local bodies would be introduced in the coming budget session of the legislature on March 14.

Between November 2011 and February 2012, 27 zilla parishads, 14 corporations, including the high profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and over 500 local bodies are going to the polls.

The Nationalist Congress Party, which had earlier called for increasing the quota to 50 per cent, welcomed the decision.