SP, RJD withdraw support to UPA on women's quota bill

The United Progressive Alliance government's move to go in for Women's Reservation Bill on Monday had its first fallout with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal announcing withdrawal of support to the coalition led by Congress.

The decision by SP, with 21 members in Lok Sabha, and RJD with four will, however, have no impact on the stability of the UPA government. The SP and the RJD were outside supporters of the government.

Angry SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad slammed the Congress for its move to "unilaterally" go ahead with the Bill, which seeks 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

"This is a political dacoity. We will not tolerate it. We are withdrawing support to the government," said Prasad with Yadav standing by his side and supporting him.

He later said, "We have withdrawn support on this issue".

He, however, was evasive when asked whether a letter withdrawing support to the government had been given to the President.