BJP to ramp up women's presence in organisation

BJP aims for more women representation in its structure ahead of implementing one-third reservation for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The BJP is likely to have a higher representation of women in its organisational structures, compared to its outgoing committees at various levels from booth upwards, as it prepares for the implementation of the law reserving one-third of seats Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.

Sources said in a state like Madhya Pradesh, the BJP may have at least seven to eight women district presidents in its 62 organisational districts against the none in the outgoing set-up.

Similarly, in Bihar, the BJP recently named two women district presidents amid its ongoing nationwide organisational election exercise.

Party sources said their national leadership is of the view that it is necessary to groom a crop of women leaders bottom-up so that able candidates are in place when the law reserving one-third of Lok Sabha and assembly seats come into force.

"In the absence of genuine women alternatives, dominant male leaders will prop up women linked to their families to fill the quota. The message to us is that we must cultivate women leaders from booth upwards," a key state BJP leader said.

In Madhya Pradesh, considered a model BJP state organisation within the party, efforts have been made to ensure that at least three women are included in 11-member booth committees at most places, he said.

Similarly, the party is also continuing with its exercise to make its organisation more representative by incorporating adequate numbers of SCs, backwards and STs, sources added.