Uma-Raje factor brings out Cong women power

‘‘For all four states, we have identified good women candidates to be fielded,’’ Mahila Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said. She, however, denied it had anything to do with the BJP. ‘‘We have nothing to do with BJP women leaders. We are just following the aspirations of our party president.’’ In Delhi, however, there are nine sitting women MLAs including Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The party is expected to field no less than 15 women candidates this time around.

The Congress woke up to the BJP challenge five months ago when it became clear that Bharti and Raje would lead the party in the polls. The Mahila Congress was instructed by the party high command to ‘‘identify’’ constituencies where women could contest and prepare a database. The rush replaced the caution with which state units stressed on ‘‘winnability’’ while countering Sonia Gandhi’s call for 33 per cent representation.

In Rajasthan, Raje’s presence is expected to get the Congress to field between 25 and 30 women candidates, of the total 200, compared to 16 last year. Thirteen of them won the polls.

‘‘In MP, where the list has been declared, 13 of the new faces were recommended by us. We have also given reasons why many sitting women MLAs must be renominated and five women MLAs have been renominated.’’ In Rajasthan, Joshi says that while the Mahila Congress has sought 65 women candidates, including the 13 sitting MLAs, around 25 to 30 may land tickets.