Punjab polls 2012 analysis: 14 women make it to Assembly in 2012 polls

Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 6

For the first time in the history of Assembly elections in Punjab, as many as 14 women candidates have made it to the Vidhan Sabha. They have surpassed the record of nine women members set in 1960 and 2002 Assembly elections.

In the last Assembly elections, only seven women candidates, out of the 55 who tested the political waters, had succeeded in winning the elections.

Though a majority of women in the fray were Independent candidates, none of them could manage to wrest a seat.

Six women candidates each from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress have successfully contested this year’s elections. Also, two women candidates contesting on the BJP ticket have made it to the Assembly.

They include Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Lehra), Dr Navjot Sidhu (Amritsar East), Karan Kaur Brar (Muktsar) and Harchand Kaur (Mehal Kalan).

Punjab, known for its feudal mindset, has always been “unfair” to the fairer sex while sharing the political power. There have been times (1969 Assembly elections) when the Vidhan Sabha didn’t have even a single woman legislator.

But things seem to be changing now. These Assembly elections saw maximum number of women candidates joining the fray - a majority of them as Independent candidates.

As many as 93 women contested these elections. Of them, 68 contested as Independent candidates.

While the Congress fielded 11 women, the SAD gave tickets to 10 women and the BJP to three women candidates.

That the number of women voters in the state is now almost the same as male voters and that the women are no longer towing the family line while casting their ballot seem to have helped the women candidates in the fray. During these elections, as many as 66.14 lakh women exercised their franchise, as against 72.78 lakh men.

Though political parties had reposed faith in young blood and given tickets to some young leaders, only two of them won at the hustings.

While Amrinder Singh “Raja” Warring has logged a win from the Gidderbaha seat, Inderbir Singh Bolaria has made the cut from the Amritsar South seat.