In run-up to 2017, women to bolster Samajwadi ship

In two-day convention of women leaders, party may announce more tickets.

UNDER attack from various quarters for being “anti-women”, the Samajwadi Party has now called a two-day convention of its women leaders in New Delhi where it will assign them responsibilities with an eye on the Assembly elections in 2017 in Uttar Pradesh.

The convention comes at a time when party chief Mualayam Singh Yadav has already issued ultimatums to MLAs and ministers in state government to shape up or lose tickets.

Though it claims to be a pro-women party, there is hardly any female leader holding any important post in the organisation. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ministry, too, has only one woman minister.

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Akhilesh along with wife Dimple, who is also the Kannauj MP, are expected to attend the convention on September 8-9.

Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been summoned by a court in Mahoba for his remarks on gangrape, will address the convention on the first day. The second day will be an open session where delegates will raise their issues.

This is the first time that a women’s convention is being organised by the Samajwadi Party after Akhilesh assumed power in UP in 2012. Mulayam is likely to announce an increased number of tickets for women leaders to contest the Assembly polls. He may also reward some of them with plum posts in party organisation.

“Netaji (Mulayam) has confirmed his presence during the event while invitation has been extended to CM and DimpleJi. Nearly 2,000 delegates from across the country will attend the convention,” Ranjana Bajpayi, national president, SP’s Women Wing told The Indian Express. “Women are instrumental in Samajwadi Party’s victory. We will focus on that,” she said.

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“There are several misconceptions about the Samajwadi Party with respect to women. Wrong publicity has also been done. Everything will be made clear at the convention. We will discuss everything threadbare,” Ranjana said.

During the convention two major issues — party’s stand on women reservation bill and recent remarks by Mulayam on rape will also be clarified. “SP is the only party which has done maximum for women. We are treated very well and given fair representation. We have 24 women legislators, which is more than any in other party,” Ranjana said.

Over Mulayam’s statement where he said that gangrape was not practically possible, Ranjana said: “Netaji’s statements are always twisted in wrong manner. His statements should be viewed in the context of what he was saying”.

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