**Bhubaneswar: ** A day after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved a resolution and got it passed in the Assembly seeking 33% reservation for the women in State Legislatures and Parliament, such a step by the regional satrap evoked political reactions in the capital city today.
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said, “It is a separate issue which party fielded the number of women candidates in the fray. The demand for reservation of women in Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha is pretty old. Such a bill is pending in Parliament as Rajya Sabha has already passed while it is yet to be through in Lok Sabha.”
“Hence, it is meaningless to pass a resolution in the Odisha Assembly when such a bill is under consideration in Parliament,” he remarked.
He commented, “We agree with the Chief Minister’s objective to pass such a resolution. What was the need for passing such a resolution? Lok Sabha session is going begin soon. The MPs from Odisha could have raised it in the Lok Sabha and demanded for passing the pending women reservation bill in the current session. It would have been justified.”
BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit in his reactions criticised, “It is meant for wooing the women voters who have shied away from BJD. Instead of getting such a resolution passed in the Assembly, let Naveen Babu announce from now the 33 BJD women candidates for 2019 elections.”
Senior BJD MLA Pushpendra Singhdeo countered, “It is a historic decision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik behind moving such a resolution. Those who criticize it as a political ploy, let me make it clear that it is never a first step for empowering the women. The Chief Minister has very often taken steps for women empowerment.”
“All parties supported the move of the Chief Minister yesterday. So far BJP’s challenge is concerned, the Chief Minister may take step in that regard when he has been doing lots of things for women empowerment,” he argued.
**Also Read:** [Odisha CM Moves Resolution Seeking 33% Reservation For Women In State And Central Legislatures](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-cm-moves-resolution-seeking-33-reservation-for-women-in-state-and-central-legislatures)
