Synopsis The book epitomizes the recent debate on women’s political empowerment through reservation. Moving beyond speculative discussion it explores the provision of reservation at two levels, by relating the debate to local government and the national government with focus on the status of women, cultural impediments and attitudinal determinants impacting on women’s participation in high level political institutions. Attitudes surrounding the dichotomous division of the society and gender role has an over bearing impact on the access of women to high level decision making institutions. State intervention in this regard has not been perceived in the same way as has been the welfare schemes and legal reform for socio-economic empowerment of women. The exploratory analysis reveals the contradictions in the promises and practices with interesting facts about the autonomous character of the emergent women representatives donning local government offices contradicting the speculation about their capabilities to manage political office. The discussion concludes with an elaborate analysis of remedial measures for strengthening the leadership capabilities of women where women themselves have to play a significant role in transforming their life situations.