In spite of tall claims made by the Bharatiya Janata Party, that over two lakh women workers would attend its women's rally on February 21 at the Ram Lila grounds, most of the chief ministers from BJP-ruled states will not be able to attend the so-called grand function.
Neither Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi nor Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will be present at the occasion.
"We have received an encouraging response from all the states and over two lakh participants would be taking part in the rally. Besides L K Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh would be present, along with other leaders. We are not sure who all are coming. We can let you know only by tomorrow," Kiran Maheshwari, the coordinator of the rally, told rediff.com.
Though Modi claimed that he got maximum number of votes from female voters during the recent elections, only 12,060 female BJP members from Gujarat are taking part in the rally.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has promised to send 30,000 women to participate in the rally.
BJP was the first political party to implement 33 per cent reservation for women within the ranks and file of the party.
"Our women state presidents and other office bearers would be sitting on one side and the national leaders on the other side," Maheshwari said.
