
CHENNAI, MARCH 26: In a sudden move, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha yesterday announced the appointment of 48 women joint and deputy district secretaries and placed them on par with men district secretaries.
The decision comes on the eve of her New Delhi visit during which the Women8217;s Political Watch is felicitating Jayalalitha 8220;for being the first politician in the country to announce 33 per cent reservation for women in her party posts8221;.
Ridiculing the felicitation announcement, former union industries minister and DMK MLA Murasoli Maran pointed out that only two of the 50 AIADMK district secretaries are women and that talk of reservation for women in the AIADMK is just an 8220;eyewash8221;.8220;The remaining 48 districts are headed by men like you and me,8221; Maran had scathingly remarked in a letter addressed to former prime minister I K Gujral, who is to participate in the function.Jayalalitha lashed back, challenging Maran to implement reservation for women in his own DMK party. However, sensing thatMaran8217;s criticism could be an embarrassment while accepting the Women8217;s Watch felicitation in the capital on March 26, Jayalalitha has made a sudden announcement, elevating 48 women to the post of joint and deputy district secretaries overnight.Incidentally, while there were only about 35 party districts earlier, during the massive party organisational elections held late last year, Jayalalitha announced the creation of 15 additional districts for administrative convenience.