By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 6, 2018: In what appears to be a political move, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday shot off letters to Chief Ministers of all states and union territories seeking their support to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures.

Patnaik on Tuesday dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to make a pro-active move to ensure one-third reservation for women.

In the letters to CMs, Patnaik has mentioned about the importance of empowering women in nation building. Recalling the maiden steps taken by former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik towards women empowerment, Patnaik said Biju Babu was the first person in the country to ensure reservation of 33 per cent for women in local bodies and state government jobs in early 1990s.

“Keeping this success in view, my government increased the reservation for women to 50 per cent in panchayats and urban local bodies in 2011,” Patnaik wrote.

“I am glad to inform you that the Odisha Assembly has adopted an unanimous resolution to provide for one-third reservation to women in Parliament as well as the state legislatures,” he added.

Patnaik, who also heads the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday has asked top party leaders to seek support of all other regional and national parties in the country in this regard.

The top BJD leaders, including some Ministers, MLAs and MPs, would meet the leaders of seven national parties and 15 regional parties to discuss the proposal.