Bhubaneswar, July 13: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today announced 50 per cent reservation for women in all the urban local bodies of the state.

The decision would have a far-reaching impact in the state’s electoral politics with urban bodies going to polls early next year. Earlier, 33 per cent seats were reserved for women in these bodies.

Making the announcement, Naveen said: “The state government has decided to enhance the reservation for women from 33 per cent to 50. It will have a far-reaching impact on women’s empowerment.”

Henceforth, of the 1,836 seats in 103 urban local bodies, 50 per cent seats will be reserved exclusively for women. The 103 urban local bodies include 33 municipal bodies, 67 notified area councils and three municipal corporations.

However, the Opposition lashed out at the government’s move stating that Naveen had enhanced the reservation for women keeping the urban elections in mind.

Former state Congress women’s wing chief Ashima Mahanada said: “The government has no soft corner for women. In order to create a women’s vote bank, the government has enhanced the reservation for women.”

State BJP unit chief Jual Oram also mirrored the feelings of Mahananda.

However the BJD leaders have refuted the charge.

The ruling party’s youth wing chief and MLA Sanjay Dasburma said: “There is nothing political about it. The chief minister sincerely wants women to be empowered and this is a move in that direction.”

“The government has already reserved 50 per cent seats for women in the panchayati raj system,” Dasburma added.

Last year, the government had enhanced women’s representation to 50 per cent from 33 per cent in the three-tier panchayati system by amending the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, Odisha Panchayat Samitee Act and the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act to enhance the quota for women from the existing 33 per cent to 50 per cent.

The idea of women’s reservation was mooted by late chief minister Biju Patnaik, father of Naveen Patnaik, who had introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in the panchayati raj system in Odisha.