Lok Satta to give 33 per cent seats to women in AP elections

Hyderabad (PTI): The Lok Satta Party on Wednesday said it would give 33 per cent of seats in the ensuing elections in Andhra Pradesh to women and asked other parties to follow suit.

The party had already reserved one-third positions for women at all levels, Lok Satta Women's Wing Secretary D Saroja told reporters here.

Saroja demanded that all parties allocate 33 per cent of tickets to women in the forthcoming elections without waiting for the passage of a bill to that effect in Parliament.

Separately, the party suggested that the state government and politial parties must strive for a political solution to the Babli project dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

A political solution to the row is possible as Congress is in power both in AP and Maharashtra and in the Centre as well, the party said.

The construction of the Babli barrage and 11 other projects on Godavari river by Maharashtra has become a major issue in Andhra Pradesh with opposition parties taking it up in a big way.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has resumed its agitation over the issue with a party delegation that left for Delhi yesterday to press the Centre on the issue. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 22:26