Men outnumbered women at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Tumkur on Sunday, even as the event was projected as the Congress vice-president’s first all-women conference.

Nevertheless, Gandhi attempted to woo women voters, who comprise over 40% of the electorate, by stating that the country can be transformed into a super power by giving more representation to women in his party.

Commenting on the poor turnout of women at the convention, Gandhi said it was testimony to how opportunities are grabbed by men. The same happens in the Congress party, he said while distributing tickets to candidates, adding: “I am trying to change the system through organising, empowering, giving social life and equal opportunity to women.”

He said the Congress will promote the representation of woman in the Parliament, assembly, panchayat, council and party elections and claimed that UPA’s progressive laws on MGNREGA, Food Security Act and RTI were formulated for the welfare of women.

He took a dig at the BJP, claiming that the party does not support woman. The BJP do not want to give positions or share its administration with women.

“The government allotted 12 cooking cylinders, and worked towards introducing stringent law on rape cases to protect women. Now, the Congress is working on reservation for women in panchayats,” he added.