Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a major women's empowerment convention held by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state branch in Thrissur, central Kerala, in a significant political move. The event, dubbed 'Sthree Shakthi Modikkoppam' (Empowered Women with Modi), intends to congratulate the Prime Minister on the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill through both Houses of Parliament.
PM Modi will begin the day by flying from Lakshadweep to Kochi in the afternoon, followed by a vibrant roadshow in Thrissur, generally referred to as Kerala's cultural center. The major event is likely to be PM Modi's speech to a crowd of two hundred thousand women at the sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan.
Women from varied backgrounds, including anganwadi instructors, ASHA workers, entrepreneurs, artists, MGNREGA and neighborhood network workers, as well as social and cultural activists, will be among the eclectic audience.
The conference is expected to draw prominent people such as actress-danseuse Shobhana, cricketer Minnu Mani, businesswoman Beena Kannan, musician Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, and anti-corruption crusader Mariyakutty.
While the event is framed as a celebration of women's empowerment, it is widely interpreted as the official launch of the BJP's election campaign for the upcoming general elections, signaling a strategic move to make political inroads into Kerala, which is currently dominated by the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.
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