Women candidates can wait a little

Political parties may talk high on women empowerment and their reservation in lawmaking bodies but when it comes to giving seats to contest Parliament elections, the story says something else.

Fifteen prominent parties have so far given 13.47% seats to women though Trinamool Congress and BJD are an exception among them.

According to an analysis by National Alliance for Women's Reservation Bill, 15 parties have fielded 136 women out of a total 1,009 candidates it has announced so far.

While TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK did not field a single woman, Shiv Sena and AIADMK are also among the "worst in terms of ticket distribution" to women. Shiv Sena fielded just woman out of a total of 22 candidates while AIADMK had one out of 21.

The biggest national parties -- BJP with 12% and INC with 13.7% women candidates -- were "disappointing too", the analysis said. BJP has 45 women out of 374 candidates while Congress is fielding 47 women out of 344 candidates.

Trinamool Congress has fielded 40.5% women (17/42) as its candidate while BJD has so far fielded 33% women (6/18) as its nominees.

Centre for Social Research National Program Coordinator Archana Jha, who led a delegation of National Alliance for Women's Reservation Bill to parties demanding their commitment for the quota law, said, parties use female members for gathering crowd in public meetings and increasing head counts during rallies.

"They make women wear party caps and hold party flags and treat them as second-grade citizens in party affairs, especially when it comes to distribution of tickets for contesting elections. We demandan immediate passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill by the next government to change this trend," she said.

The group had visited the party offices of BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, AAP and Samajwadi Party.

"Through the pattern of ticket distribution to female candidates by all parties, it could clearly be inferred that the political parties have done mere a lip service.

They have spoken at public forums in support of the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill, but are not willing to allot them tickets for contesting elections. Despite their promises, they disappointed once again," the group said.

Infographics

Party/Women Candidates/Total Candidates/Percentage

BJP: 45/374/12%

INC: 47/344/13.7%

AITC: 17/42/40.5%

PS(Lohia), 3/35/7.9%

SP: 5/29/17.2%

AMMK: 0/23

SHS: 1/22/4.5%

ADMK: 1/21/4.8%

DMK: 2/20/10%

NCP: 2/18/11.1%

BJD: 6/18/33.3%

JD(U): 1/17/5.9%

RJD: 3/17/17.6%

TRS: 2/17/11.8%

BSP 1/12/8.3%