Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said he is confident the Women's Reservation Bill will become a reality in the upcoming parliamentary session. He stressed the need for better representation of women in legislatures. He added, "I believe that all political parties are in favour of women's reservation."

DKS said that he believed that all political parties are in favour of women's reservation.

BENGALURU: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday expressed confidence that the Women's Reservation Bill would turn into a reality in the upcoming parliamentary session, stressing the need for adequate representation of women in Parliament and State Legislatures.

He was speaking after releasing the logo of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) India Region Conference at the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha.

The two-day conference will be held at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha on November 17 and 18, with more than 150 delegates, including women MPs, MLAs, MLCs and presiding officers from India and abroad, expected to participate.

Describing the conference as a historic milestone for Karnataka, Shivakumar assured the State government's full support for its successful conduct. The conference is being organised under the leadership of CWP India Region president D Purandeswari.

Referring to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's contribution to women's empowerment, he said the legislation providing 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies, from panchayats to district-level administration, had strengthened their participation in governance.

"I believe all political parties are in favour of women's reservation," he said.

Pointing to the increasing presence of women in key constitutional and administrative positions in Karnataka, Shivakumar said it was a matter of satisfaction that women were holding several important offices.