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Sonia's quota for women upsets senior Congressmen

George Iype in New Delhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision to reserve 33 per cent posts for women in the party has upset senior politicians as some of them are likely to be axed from the working committee, the party's highest decision-making body.

While Gandhi is set to convene the CWC on Saturday, January 16, to discuss her plan to re-organise the party and implement 33 per cent reservation for women, the fear of being dropped from the working committee and the All-India Congress Committee has gripped many politicians.

Gandhi wants to induct women into the key party committees by March. Party functionaries maintain that she has just two options: to either sack male members or expand the committees.

At present, the eighteen-member CWC includes just two women -- Gandhi herself and Meira Kumar. The CWC also has three permanent and two special invitees, all men -- Sitaram Kesri, Kunnoth Karunakaran, Motilal Vora, Madhavsinh Solanki and Vitthal Gadgil.

Congress sources say Gandhi plans to axe Ghulam Nabi Azad, R K Dhawan, and Tariq Anwar, who are said to have fallen out of favour, from the CWC, to be replaced by Margaret Alva, Ambika Soni and Girija Vyas.

But she is still weighing the pros and cons of dropping senior politicians. Some say it could result in infighting in the party that has been united under her leadership since she took over as president in April 1998.

Ultimately, Gandhi may trust in the political sagacity of her favourite advisers like A K Antony, P A Sangma and Oscar Fernandes.

The AICC is also to be revamped with the induction of more women. At present, it has five general secretaries, just one of whom is a woman -- Meira Kumar again. Many expect Gandhi to increase the number of general secretaries to at least eight and induct three more women.

Similarly, though the AICC has 10 secretaries, only two are women -- Usha Meena and Kumari Selja. So at least two more are likely to be added.

According to Mahila Congress president Soni, Gandhi will finalise her plan of action after the CWC meeting. "Soniaji is also planning to chair a meeting of women Congress leaders to ensure that her women's uplift programmes are launched in right earnest," she told Rediff On The NeT.

"Soniaji's novel approach to politics and her initiative to reserve 33 per cent party posts for women are revolutionary. It's going to change the face of Indian political parties," Soni said.

She said the Congress president is revving up a series of plans to mobilise women in rural areas by launching schemes for their economic and social empowerment.

But while Gandhi is all set to don the social activist's role, the state units of the Congress are finding it difficult to fulfil her promise to reserve 33 per cent posts for women in the district and state committees.

States like Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have written to Gandhi complaining of a shortage of women politicians. Gandhi has therefore asked the AICC general secretaries to work with the state Congress presidents to implement the 33 per cent reservation for women and 20 per cent for dalits, other backward classes, and minorities.

EARLIER REPORT:
Congress will support sub-quotas in Women's Reservation Bill

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