IN the end, the much-touted women's reservation bill remained just a slogan. All the political parties had tagged this issue to their election manifestos but when the time came to implement it, all of them backtracked. Most took the plea that the modalities hadn't been worked out. Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda also hadn't done his homework: before spouting bold statements that he was keen to see the bill through, he should have first consulted the United Front's constituents and ensured a consensus in his own house.