Lok Sabha members hope for women’s bill passage

New Delhi: Even while leaders cutting across party lines lauded election of Ms Sumitra Mahajan as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Trinamul leader in the House Sudip Badyopadhyay stressed that his party would strongly play the role of an Opposition.

While a few members of the House expressed the hope that Ms Mahajan would try to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by the Parliament, smaller parties appealed her to ensure that the “brute” majority of the ruling alliance should not silence the “minority” opposition voices.

“You know that the House belongs to the Opposition and huge numbers on the side of the ruling alliance should not feel that a little opposition could be taken for granted,” said Mr Bandyopadhyay.

Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel appealed to the Speaker for an early passage of the women’s reservation bill.