How women voters emerge as major political force in the Himalayan state
DEHRADUN: Women in the state have emerged as a major political force in the elections, with a voting percentage more than that of men in the recent assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the Himalayan state.
In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the voting percentage of women was 64.3% compared to 58.8% for men. In 2014 polls, the voting percentage of women was 63.05% compared to 61.3% for men.
Of the five assembly polls held in the state so far, the voting percentage of women has been higher in the last four, compared to that of men. Voting percentage in the assembly elections stood at 65.37%, with women voting percentage being more (67.2 %) than the male voting percentage (62.37 %). In the current elections, of Uttarakhand’s over 8.3 million voters, women voters number over 4 million and men over 4.3 million. All five seats in the state will go to polls during the first phase on April 19.
Both the BJP and Congress leaders have been luring women voters, with BJP trying to bank on various initiatives it has taken. While Congress is banking on its campaign for justice for women campaign, under which it is raising issues related to crime against women.
Political expert Prof MM Semwal, who teaches political science at Garhwal University said women in the Himalayan state have always been upfront and participative in political and social issues, be it the Chipko movement, anti-liquor movement or the state formation movement.
“In the current political landscape, women in the state have emerged as a major political force that can potentially shape the electoral outcome. The state functioned under the subsistence economy famously known as the ‘money order economy’ where the earning, preferably male member of the family would migrate out of the region for better opportunities. The population left behind was mostly women and children in the family. Owing to such demography, women voters have always been significant for elections in the state,” he said.
Dehradun-based political analyst SMA Kazmi said women have played a key role in shaping the politics of the state since the separate statehood agitation.
“They have played an important role in every election after the formation of Uttarakhand. Their role was clearly in play during the 2022 state assembly polls as they played a major role in the victory of the BJP. The ruling party was able to connect well with the women particularly in the hills to turn the antiincumbency tide,” he said.
Dehradun-based social activist Anoop Nautiyal said both major political parties in the state, the BJP and Congress are deeply aware of this reality. “But BJP is miles ahead in its outreach to all segments of society including women voters across the five Lok Sabha seats,” he said.
“In stark contrast, the Congress as a party is unravelling leaving its candidates with little or limited scope for imagination. The exodus of Congress leaders to the BJP has further weakened the party. Except for their talk about injustice to murdered Pauri receptionist girl and increase in crimes against women, they have not been able to build a narrative around women issues that could lure them to vote for the party in significant numbers,” he said.
BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chouhan said, “Our government has taken many historic decisions for the welfare of women, be it 30% reservation, equal rights under the UCC bill or various schemes that have benefitted the women in the state. In contrast, what has Congress done for women? They have not given ticket even to a single woman in the Lok Sabha polls. There is no doubt that Nari Shati will bless us and reject Congress once again.”
State Congress vice-president Mathura Dutt Joshi said, “30% reservation for women in jobs was started by Congress. They took it ahead and claimed it as their own. If elected to power, our government will give 50% reservation to women in government jobs.”
The role of women was clearly in play during the 2022 state assembly polls as they played a major role in the victory of the BJP. SMA KAZMI ,
Political analyst