Updated on Thursday, July 02, 2009, 22:01 IST

Chennai, July 02: In a novel way of expressing support for the Women's Reservation Bill pending in Parliament, Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday had an all women-debate.

Designated women MLAs alone were allowed to speak on the discussion for grants for Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme, headed by a woman minister, Geetha Jeevan.

Speaker R Avudaiappan said through out the country there was a demand from various quarters for the implementation of Women's Reservation Bill.

"As a forerunner, only women representatives from various parties would speak in the House on the demand today", he said.

Sankari Narayanan and Rani (DMK), Bader Saeed and Selvi Ramajayam (AIADMK), Rani Venkatesan and Dr.Gayathiri Devi (both Congress ), Sakthi Kamalambal (PMK), Padmavathi (CPI) and R Leemarose from CPI-M spoke about their parties' demands.

Bureau Report