Stalin backs women's reservation bill, Rahul thanks him

DMK working president M K Stalin has extended his party's "wholehearted support" to Rahul Gandhi on the issue of Women's Reservation Bill after which the Congress president praised him for speaking "like a true leader" and urged all political parties to come together to ensure passage of the bill.

Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi had made a strong pitch for the early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill during this session and had also written to the prime minister in this regard extending his unconditional support to the bill.

Stalin, who is the working president of UPA constituent DMK, supported Gandhi's move and also urged the prime minister to ensure early passage of the Bill that seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

"DMK President K Karunanidhi has always advocated for greater representation of women in elected bodies. On behalf of my party, I express our wholehearted support to Rahul Gandhi in his efforts and urge Prime Minister of India to ensure early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill," Stalin said on Twitter in response to a tweet by Gandhi on the issue.

The Congress chief today thanked Stalin for endorsing his stand.

Gandhi said Stalin has spoken like a true leader and a great son of Tamil Nadu by supporting the cause of women, who are key to accelerated development of India.

"Thank you M K Stalin. Spoken like a true leader and a great son of Tamil Nadu. Women are the key to the accelerated development of India. The Women's Reservation Bill recognises this fact. It's time for all political parties to come together to support this bill in Parliament," Gandhi said on Twitter.

The Women's Reservation Bill is pending in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the bill a few years ago, but the same has not been taken up in the lower house.