Summary:
“Why did Naveen announce the decision to field 33 per cent women candidates in Lok Sabha polls and not for the assembly election?” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked. In 2014, the party had fielded two women candidates from Jajpur and Keonjhar Lok Sabha seats. Hours before the Election Commission of India announced the dates for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, Naveen announced that his party will reserve 33 per cent of the tickets for women candidates in Lok Sabha polls — a first such move by any political party in the country and one which is likely to endear him and his party more among women voters. BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Sunday put into practice what he has been preaching for long — give more representation to women in electoral politics. His Mission Shakti initiative, launched during his first term in office for economic empowerment of rural women, has attracted around 70 lakh members..