Yet another attempt at unanimity on the women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies failed on Monday but Speaker Manohar Joshi said he hoped to evolve a consensus on the Bill, in its current or diluted form, before the monsoon session beginning mid-July.

At an over-three-hour all-party meeting convened by Joshi, those opposing the bill in its present form made several suggestions, including party-based reservation as proposed by the Election Commission, reduction of the quota from 33 to 15-20 per cent and increasing the number of seats to accommodate more women.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said he favoured slashing the quota to around 15 per cent and opposed rotation of constituencies. He claimed support of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party's allies like the Janata Dal-United, Samata Party and the Shiv Sena.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the government was open to supporting an amended or an altogether new bill if unanimity was not possible on the legislation in its present form.

Briefing reporters later, Joshi said he would have another round of talks with leaders of major political parties and may also discuss the issue with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi.

"We have come closer. I am happy most political parties are open to women's reservation," Joshi said hoping a consensus would be arrived at.