Not even one out of 10 candidates in the fray in Monday’s Assembly poll (104 out of 1,124) were women. But at least in numerical terms, women may decide who rules Kerala next.
It is only logical that Kerala, with its famed sex ratio, has more female voters on the electoral rolls than men. Interestingly, more women on the voters’ list actually turned up to vote than men – 78.29 per cent of the women on voters’ list voted, against 76.33 per cent of men, implying a 1.96 per cent difference, taking into account all the 140 Assembly segments.
The turnout of women voters eclipsed that of men in 78 Assembly constituencies spread across the State, while men overshot the number of women in 51 constituencies, as per Election Commission figures.
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While some political sources put it down to increasing political awareness and a growing urge for more self assertion among women in Kerala, others point to mundane reasons such as the percentage of women being higher in areas with a high NRI population — since the men may be abroad — or the deeply emotive issues like the recent rape and murder of a law student at Perumbavoor, or even the liquor policy of the UDF government.
The women turnout percentage in six districts in Malabar, exceeded the number of women voters who turned out in Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, and Thiruvanthapuram. In Malabar, the turnout percentage was the highest in Malappuram district.
The difference in women and men polling percentage in Manjeswaram was 7.63; Uduma (8.4); Kannur (5.9); Koothuparamba (10.17); Vadakara (7.67); Kuttiyadi (9.97); Perinthalmanna ( 8.58); Vengara (12.38); Tirurangadi (13.36); Tanur (912.11); Tirur (10.84) Thavanur (8.35); Ponnani (10.86); Thrithala (8.09); Pattambi (8.26); Guruvayur (8.80); Manulur (5.57) Kaipamangalam (7.04); Karunagappally (6.87); Kayamkulam (5.29); Mavelikara (5.63); Chavara (8.06); Chathannur (7.44); Varkala (9.87); Attingal (5.17); and Chirayinkeezhu (6.1).
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On the other hand, the percentage of men who cast their votes was higher in Vattiyurkavu, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Nemom, Aruvikkara, Parassala, Kattakada, Kovalam, Neyyattinkara, Perumbavoor, Angamaly, Aluva, Kalamassery, Kochi, Tripunithura, Kothamangalam, Pala, Kaduthuruthy, and Poonjar.