There are fewer women candidates in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections this time than in 2013, though the number of female voters on the electoral roll has increased.
Sixty-three women are contesting the February 7 elections against 71 women in the field in the December 2013 Assembly polls. However, the total number of candidates has also dropped from 810 last time to 739.
The number of women on the rolls has gone up from 53.21 lakh in 2013 to 58.23 lakh. The overall number of enrolled voters has also gone up from 1.19 crore to 1.30 crore, making the percentage of women voters go up from 43.98 per cent to 44.50 per cent.
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While the number of women candidates as a percentage of the total has gone up from 8.76 per cent to 9.36 per cent, it is far from achieving the 33 per cent representation as envisaged by the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The legislation has been pending in Parliament for nearly five years after the Rajya Sabha passed it in 2010.
Meanwhile, top political parties have fielded nearly the same number of women as they did in 2013. The Bharatiya Janata Party has given tickets to eight women, including chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi. It had fielded five female candidates last time.
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There are five women candidates from Congress this time, down one from six in 2013. The Aam Aadmi Party has the same number of women candidates this time too — six.
Women’s rights groups say that these numbers won’t change till the Lok Sabha passes the reservation Bill. All-India Progressive Women’s Association secretary Kavita Krishnan explained that the “Bill is the only answer”.
“This is not only about internal prejudice in political parties, but also about discourse around gender. The reservation is important till a time that women leaders emerge on the stage,” said Ms. Krishnan.
Women’s rights groups say that these numbers won’t change till the Lok Sabha passes the Women’s reservation Bill