With the Left parties and Congress assuring support to the Bill (though the latter had played foul last time), the government appeared confident that it would at least be able to table the Bill. But it will face strong opposition from the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, which remain violently against the Bill. Congress leader Sharad Pawar said that his party would back OBC reservations if there was a consensus otherwise it would support the current Bill.

The government's strategy appears to be to introduce the Bill to score brownie points with women - and leave the matter there. Passing the Bill is another ball game, given theopposition of male MPs cutting across party lines.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana said that the Bill could be introduced any time. It was not necessary to distribute the Bill 48 hours in advance as it had already been circulated among members earlier. He said that if the House wished the Bill could still be sent to a select committee after it was introduced although it has already gone through a standing committee.

Vajpayee said that the Bill would be brought in its present form and amendments could be considered after the Bill was introduced. The demand for giving reservations to OBC women would be taken up ``at an appropriate time'' through a separate Bill, party leaders were told at the meeting. The same goes for reservations for women in the Rajya Sabha and State legislative councils.