The decision comes on the eve of her New Delhi visit during which the Women's Political Watch is felicitating Jayalalitha ``for being the first politician in the country to announce 33 per cent reservation for women in her party posts''.

Ridiculing the felicitation announcement, former union industries minister and DMK MLA Murasoli Maran pointed out that only two of the 50 AIADMK district secretaries are women and that talk of reservation for women in the AIADMK is just an ``eyewash''.``The remaining 48 districts are headed by men like you and me,'' Maran had scathingly remarked in a letter addressed to former prime minister I K Gujral, who is to participate in the function.Jayalalitha lashed back, challenging Maran to implement reservation for women in his own DMK party. However, sensing thatMaran's criticism could be an embarrassment while accepting the Women's Watch felicitation in the capital on March 26, Jayalalitha has made a sudden announcement, elevating 48 women to the post of joint and deputy district secretaries overnight.Incidentally, while there were only about 35 party districts earlier, during the massive party organisational elections held late last year, Jayalalitha announced the creation of 15 additional districts for administrative convenience.