Women in politics still find it tough

Chennai: Even after many decades of democracy in the cou­ntry, women in politics still seem to have not got their fair share of governance. The most recent as­sembly polls in four northern states have yet again reasserted the do­m­­i­nation of men in our political landscape.

While only three out of the 69 women who contested for the 70 seats in Delhi won in their con­s­tit­uencies (all from Aam Aadmi Party), the situation is not very different in Madhya Pradesh (25 out of 100 women candidates for 230 assembly seats), Rajasthan and Chattishgarh (only sev­en women MLAs each).

In Tamil Nadu where the chief minister is a woman, only 18 women (including Yercaud MLA Saroja) are present in the state 234-member str­ong state legislative asse­mbly. The previous legi­sl­ative assembly had a slightly better ratio with 22 women in the house.

Political analysts point out that even in this day and age, it is extremely difficult for women to climb the political ladder in the male-dominated society. “Basically, we live in a male-chauvinistic world and it is extre­mely difficult for women to climb the political ladder and take their fair share of seats,” says no­ted political analyst and writer Gnani. He argues that wo­m­en should be given equal rep­­resentation in politics and given 50 per cent of the total seats.

A recent analysis on statistics of women me­mbers of Parliament co­n­ducted by the Inter-Par­li­manetary Union (IPU) revealed that wom­en have a poor representation of just 11 per cent in India’s Lok Sabha and just 10.6 per cent in the Rajya Sabha.

The Women’s Reser­vation Bill which if imp­le­mented guarantees them 33 per cent of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies, has be­en hanging in the balance for over a decade after facing stiff opposition from various quarters both in and outside both Houses of Parli­a­ment.

Women’s rights activ­ists point out that unless the reservation bill is made into an Act, it is difficult for women to get their fair sh­a­re. They claim that while it has become a reality at the panchayat level, it still remains a dream at the higher level as men fear losing control.

“In the beginning, we will see dummy candida­tes such as wives standing on behalf of husba­nds and daughters stepping in for fathers. But over time women will emerge independent and grab their rights,” hoped Gnani.