Bhopal: The BJP stated that it would set aside 33% seats for women at all levels of the party hierarchy.

The decision came almost eight years after the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress reserve one-third of seats in the party group for women.

L.K. Advani, opposition leader told that the BJP would also reserve 33% seats for women in Assembly and parliamentary elections provided a law made it obligatory for all political parties.

As it showed off its gender-sensitivity, the BJP took a swipe at the Left.

Sushma Swaraj said, “Till the last one year, their (the Left’s) politburo did not have any woman member. They have had governments in three states but are yet to choose a woman chief minister. We have had three women chief ministers.”

The national executive today took up a report by a six-member group for raising women’s image in BJP bodies to 33%. Sushma, who headed up the board stated till now, women’s account in these bodies, was between 12 and 15%.

Sushma told that the group’s suggestions would be sanctioned and the party’s structure rectified at the next conference of the national council.

According to the recommendations, 27 of the 81 national executive associates will be women, comprising two each from the SCs and STs.

Sushma said that her party has always privileged proper account for women at all levels.

She said, “Amongst all the governments in India, the NDA cabinet led by A.B. Vajpayee had maximum representation of women. There were 11 of them, of which nine were from the BJP.”

“In the UPA, there are only 10 women ministers and only six are from the Congress,” she added.