 bill no  244 of 2016 the representation of the people (amendment) bill, 2016 byprof (dr) sugata bose,  mpa billfurther to amend the representation of the people act, 1951be it enacted by parliament in the sixty-seventh year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the representation of the people (amendment) act, 2016short title and commencement5(2) it shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notificationin the official gazette, appoint43 of 19512 after section 32 of the representation of the people act, 1951, the following sectionshall be inserted, namely:—insertion of new section 32a10" 32a notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every political party shall, at every general election to the house of the people and the legislative assemblies of states, allocate at least, forty per cent of the total seats being contested by it to female candidates and forty per cent of such seats to male candidates:political party to allocate fortyper centfemale and forty per cent male candidates to contest electionsprovided that in the case of general election to the house of the people, every political party shall also ensure to allocate, at least forty per cent of the total parliamentary seats being contested by it in any state to female candidates and forty per cent of such seats to male candidates" statement of objects and reasonsin the interest of gender equity, there is an urgent need to provide just representation to women in the house of people and the state legislatures the need is to empower women to join politics, encourage and ensure their active participation for upholding the true essence of democracy and political representation of the people the best way to do so is to make a gender-neutral one-line amendment to the representation of the people act, 1951 requiring, registered and recognized political parties to nominate at least forty per cent, male and forty per cent female candidates to contest elections to the house of people and the state legislative assemblies there is overwhelming evidence from across the world that women's representation has increased only when political parties have maintained something close to gender parity on their nomination lists the amendment obviates the need to rotate constituencies that reservation of seats would require and avoids the unhealthy prospect of women contesting against women within the secluded walls of reserved seatshence this billnew delhi;sugata  bosejuly 22, 2016 lok sabha———— a billfurther to amend the representation of the people act, 1951————(prof (dr) sugata bose, mp)gmgipmrnd—2633ls(s3)—20-10-2016