‘Nari Shakti’ set to influence Kashmir's male dominated political landscape

Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for multiple elections this year, women, comprising 49 per cent of the voting populace, are poised to wield unprecedented influence in shaping the Muslim majority region’s male dominated political landscape.

From bustling towns to tranquil villages alike, more and more women are stepping forward to venture into the domain of politics. Women, who had long been the silent pillars of strength in their families and communities are seen rallying together, their voices echoing with determination and hope.

Like the rest of the country, Lok Sabha polls in J&K will be held in five phases in April and May while the much awaited Assembly elections are due anytime this year. The panchayat and municipal polls are also scheduled in the UT this year.

In the first assembly election in J&K in 1951, there were no women registered as voters. However, there was one woman who contested but lost her deposit. It was only in the 1972 assembly elections that women, for the first time, entered the J&K assembly.

That year, ten women filed their nominations, six of them contested and four won. It was the first election in which the majority of women contestants won. They gave the state assembly its highest percentage (5.33 per cent) of women. Unfortunately, 52 years on, that record remains unbroken.

According to official figures out of the total 86.93 lakh registered voters in Jammu and Kashmir this time, women make up 42.58 lakh electorate or roughly 49 per cent. The recent enactment of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' and the provision of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Assembly have provided women with an opportunity to showcase their potential in politics.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there were only two women contestants against 61 males. Similarly, in 2014 Assembly elections, out of 831 contestants only 28 were women. However, now efforts are under way at the party level to further enhance women's participation in politics, recognising their longstanding contributions.

While there has been no announcement regarding the holding of much awaited assembly polls in the Union Territory, several women are likely to contest the Parliament elections to be held in April and May.

The number of women candidates will be revealed only once all the parties announce their nominees, but in all likelihood the BJP, Congress, PDP and Apni Party are likely to nominate atleast one female candidate for five Lok Sabha seats in the UT.

To ensure more women come out to vote, authorities will establish pink polling booths in all districts of the UT during the Lok Sabha elections which will be entirely manned by female employees.

Hina Bhat, a BJP leader and chairperson Khadi Village Industries Board says women in J&K are liberal to join other fields like medical, engineering, media “but when it comes to politics there is a stigma.”

She believes that women are the major sufferer of militancy. “As a wife, sister and mother, women have suffered a lot which has restricted them from participating in political activities,” Bhat added.

However, senior woman leader of National Conference Sakina Itoo believes that it is not the militancy that is holding women from joining politics in Kashmir but it is the society.

“Even if we look at data before militancy, limited women contested elections,” added the former MLA.