Table of Contents
Author: Pankaj Chowdhury
Abstract
Women’s participation in elections is a key indicator of progress toward gender equality. It reflects the extent to which societal and systemic barriers to women’s political engagement are being dismantled. This study aims to address these disparities to enhance gender equality and promote women’s participation and representation in West Bengal’s politics effectively. Drawing upon authoritative data from the Election Commission of India, we focus on major political parties – those with a significant presence of at least 50 candidates. In the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election of 2021, among the 3.7 crore male electors, 3 crore (81.37%) exercised their voting rights. In comparison, among the 3.6 crore female electors, 2.9 crore (81.75%) participated in the electoral process. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) emerged as the champion of female participation, fielding a notable 16.7% women candidates—overcoming the state’s overall average of 11.3%. Women comprise only 9.3% and 9.9% of contestants in SC and ST constituencies, respectively, compared to 12.6% in general seats. Political parties and policymakers must recognize the specific challenges faced by women in marginalized communities and develop strategies to address them. Awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, and mentorship initiatives can equip women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in politics.
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Keywords: women in politics in india, gender gap, sustainable development goals, women empowerment
References
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