Women get a raw deal in this election, again

UNFAIR Half the voters are women but less than 10% make it to the assembly

DHARAMSHALA: Women make up for half the number of voters in Himachal Pradesh but their representation in the 68-member assembly has always been less than 10%.

Since the first time the state went to the polls in 1951, only 22 women have made it to the assembly. The best performance was in 1998 when six woman candidates made it to the assembly out of the 25 who contested, which is 9% of the total strength.

It was also the first time that woman voters outnumbered their male counterparts, recording a 72.21% turnout against 71.23% men.

Since then, there has been no trend reversal though more women voters have walked up to polling booths then men.

In the 2003 elections, women recorded a 76% turnout as compared to 74% men who voted. In 2007, 74% women voted, while 76% exercised their franchise in 2012 when 69% of male voters voted.

PRESENCE IN HOUSE

Though there has been a surge in voting percentage, the number of women making it to the assembly has dropped.

In 1998, a record six of the 25 woman candidates who contested registered a victory. Four of them were from the Congress and two from the BJP. While Vidya Stokes, Viplov Thakur, Asha Kumari and Krishna Mohini represented the Congress, Urmil Thakur and Sarveen Chaudhary made it to the House from the BJP. Nirmala Devi was another BJP MLA elected through a byelection.

Mohini was unseated by a Supreme Court order in 1999.

The number of women in the poll fray went up to 31 in 2003 but only four won. In 2007, five of the 25 contestants were victorious. Only three woman candidates won in 2012. Most successful woman leaders in Himachal are from political families. The BJP’s Sarveen Chaudhary is an exception.

FEW IN CABINET

Women’s representation in the state cabinet has been dismal. There was no woman in the council of ministers for two decades since the first election in 1951. Over half a century on, the number continues to be disappointing.

The highest-ever representation was in 1995 when two women were inducted in the cabinet as minister of state and one as a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS). The last two cabinets had only one woman member each.

Political parties don’t practise what they preach. Before the November 9 elections, the BJP promised it would field 10 women but ended up giving the ticket to only six. The Congress fares worse as it has fielded only two women this time.