After the 2001 elections, there were 6 women directly elected to the 300-member Parliament. The number of seats reserved for women had been increased to 45 from 30 seats that had been reserved in the previous Parliament. Party affiliation depends on membership drives and on the organizational and electoral needs of each party. The actual number of women members in different political parties, however, cannot be determined, since gender-specific records are not maintained. Nevertheless, a slow trend towards women's greater participation has emerged over the decade.