The Gujarat Assembly has passed a landmark Bill which makes, for the first time in the country, voting mandatory for local self bodies. It also seeks to raise the reservation of seats for women in local bodies from 33 to 50 per cent.<br/><br/>The Congress has opposed the mandatory voting provision, terming it in contradiction with the constitutional provisions but supported raising of seats for women in the local bodies.<br/><br/>Under the Bill, if a voter fails to vote for the reasons other than prescribed in the rules, he may be declared a "defaulter voter" and would face consequences for which rules will be framed and placed before the assembly for its approval later. <br/><br/>