32 yrs on, state capital again elects 3 women candidates
BJP MLAs’ victory mirrors a similar feat by Congress women candidates in the 1985 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections
There was more to 2017 UP assembly polls than BJP’s thumping win. The elections will also be remembered for the state capital sending the maximum number of women candidates of the same party to the Vidhan Sabha. Three female candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party won the elections from Lucknow.
Ever since independence, this is the second instance when something like this has happened here. In 1985, it was for the first time that three women candidates won assembly elections from the state capital. They were all Congress candidates.
This time, those who kept the flag of women politicians flying high in Lucknow were Jai Devi from Malihabad assembly constituency, Swati Singh from Sarojininagar and Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Cantonment. Jai Devi bagged 94,677 votes, Sawati Singh polled 1,08,506 votes and Rita Bahuguna Joshi got 95,402 votes.
As this has happened after a gap of 32 years, it has made these elections extra special for the women voters of the state capital too.
This time, the district will have the highest female representation in the Vidhan Sabha with three women MLAs.
Back in 1985, those who had helped achieved the feat were Congress candidates Swaroop Kumari Bakshi (Lucknow East), Premwati Tiwari (Cantonment) and Krishna Rawat (Malihabad).
All three had registered huge victories in their constituencies.
Meanwhile, 1991 to 2007 could be called the lull period in this respect, during which no women candidates winning the assembly elections from the state capital.