Men MLAs in Orissa fear losing their seats ahead of introduction of women's quota bill

Several legislators in Orissa, particularly from the southern region, are anxious ahead of introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament fearing loss of their constituencies.    Of the 147 assembly constituencies, women outnumber men voters in at least 24 seats in Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Nuapada districts,according to official sources.The constituencies dominated by women voters are likely to be reserved for them if the bill is passed in Parliament, said a political observer.According to the bill's provisions, 49 of 147 assembly segments and seven of 21 Lok Sabha seats would be reserved for women.Several men MLAs from these districts who are likely to be  reffected, however, termed it as 'premature'. "It is difficult to predict the criteria of the reservation at this juncture," said a BJP MLA.In many cases, men are now representing the segments dominated by women voters. Out of seven segments in  erhampurLok Sabha constituency, comprising five from Ganjam and twofrom Gajapati, women voters dominate in at least three seats -Chikiti (male-85,805, female- 85917), Mohana (male-82,135,female-86967) and Paralakhemundi (male-87,868, female-91,613).Usha Devi is the lone woman MLA elected from Chikiti, while the other two segments are represented by men.