AMARAVATI, April 15: A significant meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner parties was held at the residence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu here on Wednesday, where the alliance partners resolved to extend unified support to the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill currently being taken up in Parliament, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as landmark legislative initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao, among other senior leaders. The discussions, which lasted nearly two and a half hours, centred on the latest developments unfolding in New Delhi, particularly concerning constituency delimitation and the Women's Reservation Bill.
The leaders decided that all MLAs and MLCs of the alliance parties would gather at a common venue in Amaravati on April 17 to watch the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill live. It was also resolved to extend invitations to all political parties in the State, including the YSR Congress Party, as well as prominent women leaders, to participate in the event.
A programme expressing support for the Bill is to be organised immediately upon its passage in the Lok Sabha.
Addressing concerns over delimitation, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that he had sought and received clarification from the Central leadership, particularly Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, regarding apprehensions that southern States would not receive a proportionate increase in parliamentary seats. The Centre had categorically assured that seat allocation would follow the pro-rata method and that southern States would suffer no disadvantage, he said.
Chief Minister Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav expressed satisfaction over the clarifications received. The leaders condemned what they described as a disinformation campaign surrounding the seat-sharing formula and resolved to politically welcome both Bills.
It was further decided to organise extensive programmes at the district and constituency levels in support of the Women's Reservation Bill, and to ensure that women across the State express their gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the historic legislation. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed that live streaming of the Bill's introduction in Parliament be arranged across all constituencies in the State.
