In a surprise move, two members of the Trinamool Congress joined 12 of the BSP in walking out of the house before the women's bill was put to vote.

The UPA ally said it was unhappy with the way the bill was pushed through ignoring its demand for a quota for Muslim women. The BSP had earlier said it wanted a sub-quota for women from the minorities, dalits and other backward classes.

Earlier in the day, TMC gave indication of what to expect when Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen closetted with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. They remained huddled together for quite a while in a corner of the Central Hall in parliament today. Indpendent MP from Bihar, Digvijay Singh, who apaprently brought the three together, was also seen with them.

While what transpired is not known, Mulayam Singh was heard commenting that introduction of the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha would create a much more explosive situation.

Not until long Mamata and Lalu did not see eye to eye. She had not only rubbished Lalu's tenure as the railway minister she had even constituted an inquiry and had released a white paper showing the ministry's performance poorly during Lalu's time.

But the women's reservation bill seems to have brought her close to Lalu and Mulayam. NCP leader Sharad Pawar was heard commenting what a "dangerous combination" in the making!