After Modi, Nitish Kumar woos women
13 April 2013 12:58 AM GMT
The decision in this regard was taken in Patna and announced by Director General of Police Abhyanand. ‘It was decided that 35 per cent of the 47,000 vacant posts in the rank of constables and sub-inspectors will be reserved for women,’ said the DGP announcing that the recruitment process would start after Cabinet approval.
The timing of the move is crucial as Nitish Kumar is coming to Delhi to attend his party’s national executive meeting, where a resolution is likely to be passed that would be asking BJP to announce National Democratic Alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.
The move is being seen as forcing BJP’s hand in a situation where Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is emerging as front runner for the post. JD(U), especially its strongman Nitish Kumar, has repeatedly shown reservations towards Modi and made moves to counter the Gujarat chief minister’s publicity overdrive.
Speaking at the FICCI event in Delhi last week, Modi gave examples from his state while talking about exemplary achievements of women entrepreneurs. He referred to the huge success of Lijjat Paapad and how it was started by a group of village women. On more concrete moves for women empowerment, Modi had rued the fact that move to reserve 50 per cent seats in local bodies in Gujarat has failed to get assent of the state’s women governor.
Introducing quota for women could be Kumar’s way of countering the recent call given by Modi to empower women at the convocation of FICCI Ladies’ Organisation in New Delhi. Kumar has been a pioneer in women’s empowerment as Bihar government was the first to introduce 50 per cent quota for women in panchayat and urban civic bodies. Also in March, the Bihar government announced 50 per cent reservation for women in the powerful cooperative societies of the state.
According to sources, JD (U) president Sharad Yadav and his BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh held telephonic discussion on Friday ahead of the JD(U) executive. The two leaders discussed the possible fallout of the resolution proposed to be passed at party meeting. It is believed that it was agreed upon that no particular leader would be targeted, even as demand for a secular face would be made. On his part, Rajnath assured Yadav that the prime ministerial candidate would be decided only after consultation with the allies.
The timing of the move is crucial as Nitish Kumar is coming to Delhi to attend his party’s national executive meeting, where a resolution is likely to be passed that would be asking BJP to announce National Democratic Alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.
The move is being seen as forcing BJP’s hand in a situation where Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is emerging as front runner for the post. JD(U), especially its strongman Nitish Kumar, has repeatedly shown reservations towards Modi and made moves to counter the Gujarat chief minister’s publicity overdrive.
Speaking at the FICCI event in Delhi last week, Modi gave examples from his state while talking about exemplary achievements of women entrepreneurs. He referred to the huge success of Lijjat Paapad and how it was started by a group of village women. On more concrete moves for women empowerment, Modi had rued the fact that move to reserve 50 per cent seats in local bodies in Gujarat has failed to get assent of the state’s women governor.
Introducing quota for women could be Kumar’s way of countering the recent call given by Modi to empower women at the convocation of FICCI Ladies’ Organisation in New Delhi. Kumar has been a pioneer in women’s empowerment as Bihar government was the first to introduce 50 per cent quota for women in panchayat and urban civic bodies. Also in March, the Bihar government announced 50 per cent reservation for women in the powerful cooperative societies of the state.
According to sources, JD (U) president Sharad Yadav and his BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh held telephonic discussion on Friday ahead of the JD(U) executive. The two leaders discussed the possible fallout of the resolution proposed to be passed at party meeting. It is believed that it was agreed upon that no particular leader would be targeted, even as demand for a secular face would be made. On his part, Rajnath assured Yadav that the prime ministerial candidate would be decided only after consultation with the allies.
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