LS polls: PM Modi motivates female candidates while Cong gets panned for insulting ‘women power’

New Delhi, March 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to two women Lok Sabha candidates on the phone -- Rekha Patra, the Sandeshkhali survivor contesting the upcoming general election on a BJP ticket from West Bengals Basirhat seat and Prof TN Sarasu, the BJP candidate from Keralas Alathur constituency, who was targeted by the SFI members.

In the telephonic conversation, PM Modi not only enquired about their campaigning but also assured personal and party support in helping them draw up electoral strategy and taking the message to the masses.

Notably, PM Modis motivational calls to women candidates come at a time when the Congress is facing harsh criticism and diatribe for casting aspersions and taking slanderous jibes at the women power.

PM Modis conversation with Rekha Patra, the face of Sandeshkhali movement, and TN Sarasu, the Kerala professor facing vicious attack for reforms, is not a one-off incident, rather it shows BJPs firm commitment and resolve for women empowerment.

PM Modi described Rekha Patra as Shakti Swaroopa while he lent an ear to TN Sarasus difficult times during her tenure as college teacher.

He assured both the women nominees of all the support and also wished them good luck in the election.

With PM Modi motivating and boosting the morale of women nominees, who battled against the odds and rose to national prominence, the message goes loud and clear about Centres priorities for women.

Centres Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and the passage of womens reservation bill are two shining examples of its thrust on increased womens participation in the public sphere.

On the other hand, the Congress is seen floundering on multiple aspects.

First, Rahul Gandhis public gaffe on destroying the shakti, a form of goddess in Hindu religion, drew huge backlash and then the Congress social media in-charge as well as national spokespersons denigrating remarks on Kangana Ranauts candidature put the party on backfoot.

Supriya Shrinate kicked up a major storm when she mocked Kangana Ranauts nominaton as BJP Lok Sabha nominee from Himachals Mandi constituency and has been rightfully at the receiving end of the netizens and the right wing.

Many netizens said that her Instagram post on Kanganas nomination, Mandi mein kya bhaav chal raha hai shows not just her but partys anti-women mindset.

The Congress did no good either as it stood by her side and backed her despite knowing that her comments crossed the line.

Supriya later clarified by claiming that the post was made by some other person, with access to her account.But the damage was done.

Now, the question arises whether Congress has missed the plot and is it getting desperate in the run-up to 2024 elections and driven by the hatred for BJP and women, as claimed by the latter?

While the parties engage in verbal exchanges, the optics game clearly favours the BJP.

And, PM Modi is seen leading the BJPs women empowerment mission from the front.

mr/pgh