Though the population of women in the district stands at 49.71 per cent as per the 2011 census, only six of them have thrown their hat in the ring for the upcoming polls.
But for the BJP and the BSP, which have issued tickets to one woman candidate each, other parties have completely ignored the fairer sex.
Out of 91 candidates who are testing their popularity in the seven Assembly constituencies in the district, only six are women. They are Kalpana Siddaraju (Ind) and Vanajakshi (BJP) from Maddur, Rathnamma (BSP) from Srirangapatna, C P Lavanya (Karnataka Bharathiya Raitha Party) from Nagamangala and G C Asha and Manjulamma (both Ind) from K R Pet. However, there are no women candidates from Mandya, Malavalli and Melkote constituencies.
G C Asha contesting from K R Pet is the youngest candidate (26), and is an engineering degree holder. Vanajakshi holds an MA degree, Kalpana Siddaraju is a BA graduate, Manjulamma has completed her PUC, C P Lavanya and Rathnamma have only completed SSLC.
These women candidates are also poorer when compared to their male counterparts, as per the affidavits of asset details submitted by them.
BJP had also issued a ticket to Soubhagyamma Mahadevaiah in Malavalli, but she withdraw from contest in the last moment.
Reservation
Farmer leader Sunanda Jayaram opines that 50 per cent reservation for women given under panchayat raj system should be followed in Assembly elections too.
Female foeticide should be eradicated and equal opportunities should be provided to women. Only then would it be possible to bring about a change, she said. Women are given opportunities by parties only in dynastic politics, she added.
