Prior to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, in the Trinamool election manifesto, Banerjee had categorically expressed her conviction for the passage of the Bill. “The Women’s Reservation Bill should be passed in the Lok Sabha,” read the manifesto that was released in April 2009.

Apart from her concern over the rights of minorities and backward classes, Banerjee had articulated women’s issues exclusively in a separate chapter. It had also detailed the miserable condition of women, especially in West Bengal. In the chapter on “Women society”, she had blamed the ruling CPM for the pathetic condition of women in the state. “In the process of women empowerment and equal rights, the women in the state are lagging behind. According to human development indices, women are backbenchers,” stated the manifesto.

It also blamed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for his failure to protect the rights of women.

Most Trinamool Congress leaders in Kolkata, however, tried to defend Banerjee’s decision. Leader of the State Legislative Assembly, Partho Chatterjee, said though Trinamool is not against reservation for women, but at the same time the Centre must listen to the voices of minorities.

“It is a fact that our manifesto expressed concern for the women society as a whole, but I think there was a lack of communication between the Congress and our party. Till Tuesday, the Prime Minister had informed us that our party was welcome to express its views on the Bill. But we were not informed about it in the afternoon,” said Chatterjee.

“I am surprised that while the BJP and the CPM were informed prior to the Bill being put to vote, we were kept in the dark. If the Bill was shelved for 14 years, why were they (Congress) in a hurry? They could have waited for another 14 minutes,” he added.

Mamata Banerjee thinks that the demands of the minorities are valid and they should not be neglected, said Chatterjee.

Trinamool’s 2009 manifesto demands:
* Women’s Reservation

Bill should be passed in the Lok Sabha

* Make arrangements for 33 per cent reservation for women in elected representation

* Women empowerment groups should be established

*Women should be encouraged to participate in self-help groups and financial help should be offered

* Women to be engaged in the management of co-operative banks

* Women should be given priority in employment

* All sections of women should be given social security

* Homes for helpless

women and children should be upgraded

* Adequate measures should be taken to stop atrocities against women and children

* Special action should be taken to stop trafficking

* A commission comprising women should be set up

to look into the interests and social upgrading of women

Salvos from Left, Right and Centre
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s decision to abstain from voting when the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday has invited criticism from all political parties in Bengal, including Congress. “Mamata Banerjee was one of the chief patrons of the Women Reservation Bill and we were surprised with the stand taken by her party during voting,” said WBPCC working committee president Manash Bhuniya.

Pradip Bhattacharjee, working president of state Congress, said that her move will give a wrong picture of their alliance to the people of Bengal. “I was shocked by her stand on the Bill. Being our partner and an important minister in the UPA government, it was strange that she took the sudden decision. This will give a wrong picture of the alliance in the state,” said Bhattacharjee.

The state BJP leadership has also condemned Banerjee for fermenting communal sentiments by not voting for the Bill.

Claiming that the Trinamool has no clear stand, BJP state president Rahul Sinha said: “When Trinamool Congress is headed by a woman, how could they oppose the Bill for women reservation? By implying that a separate provision be made for Muslim women, Banerjee is bent on dividing people on the basis of religion.”