DMK meet to focus on women's issues, MK to attend

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Jun 13 (UNI) The coastal district of Cuddalore is all set to host tomorrow the first conference of the Ruling DMK's Women's Wing, underscoring the party's efforts to rope in more women in its voter base, with a galaxy of top leaders, including DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expected to attend the mammoth meet.

The two-day conference will be held at the Manjakuppam Grounds here. More than three lakh women are expected to attend the meet, where speakers will deliver lectures on a host of topics, including the DMK Government and Women's Rights, Women's Reservation and Rise of Women Under Mr Karunanidhi's regime.

The delegates will discuss issues related to women's development, self-respect, rights, and devolution of political and economic powers to women.

The Chief Minister's daughter and MP Ms Kanimozhi will be among the prominent guests at the meet, along with Mr Karunanidhi and his Cabinet colleagues.

According to political observors, the DMK had started to focus on the youth wing and recently, women, taking a cue from the DMDK, which was ''nibbling away votes from these two important constituences.'' A few months ago, the DMK held a state-level youth wing conference in Tirunelveli under Mr Karunanidhi's son and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin.

The present conference assumes significance with approaching elections to the Lok Sabha in 2009, in which women could play a significant role at the 'altar of hustings'.

Organised by the Cuddalore Wing, Cuddalore DMK District Secretary and Backward Classes Minister M R K Panneerselvam, the event is being held on a grand scale.

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