Bhubaneswar: Both the BJP and the BJD have set their eyes on women's votes and are making every attempt to win over their support.

As part of this strategy, the BJP state unit will organise a two-day state-level women's convention from Thursday to highlight the Narendra Modi government's success stories and bring into focus the Naveen Patnaik government's alleged failures in protecting their interests. BJP women's wing national president Vijaya Rahatkar will attend the meeting.

The BJP's aim is to break into the BJD's grip on women who are considered as the vote bank of the BJD. They have so far consistently supported the Naveen Patnaik government over the last 18 years.

During the convention, the BJP will highlight its Ujjwala scheme under which cooking gas connections are being given to the women. The BJP plans to give cooking gas connection to 30 lakh women in the state.

State BJP women's wing president Pravati Parida said: "Under the Naveen Patnaik regime, the women are feeling insecure. There is rampant of selling of liquor and the youths have become jobless. Crimes against women have also gone up like anything."

The party has also criticised the state government's move not to introduce Centre's Ayushman health scheme in the state. "Women are suffering like anything. We need to protect their interests," he said.

During the convention, the BJP will also chalk out blueprints to counter the BJD's strategy to mobilise the women power in its favour. The BJD has already announced to organise women's convention of the party from September 24 to September 30. Even during the BJD's Jan Sampark Pada Yatra that is being organised every year, the party has decided to dedicate one day exclusively for women only. On that day, only women workers of the party will take part.

On August 24, chief minister Naveen Patnaik during his meeting with the women's representatives had asked them to move to the grassroots and make people aware of the various government welfare initiatives - including the launch of food security scheme from October 2 by the state government. Naveen listed the major initiatives taken by the government for women who are considered as the game changers.