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The recent Delhi assembly elections witnessed a significant shift in the number of women representatives. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a majority of seats, the overall number of women elected to the assembly decreased from eight in 2020 to five in 2023. This decline, despite a record high in female candidate participation, highlights the persistent challenges faced by women in achieving political representation in India. The 2023 election saw a total of 95 women candidates out of 699, marking the highest percentage of female participation in decades, yet only representing 13.6% of the total candidates. This underscores a considerable disparity between the number of women competing for office and the number ultimately succeeding. The BJP, despite its overall victory, saw only four of its nine female candidates win, a decrease from their previous performance. In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saw only one of its female candidates secure a seat, a stark drop from their previous success. This disparity raises questions about the effectiveness of party strategies and the wider socio-political factors influencing women's electoral prospects.
The election results showcased individual victories and defeats that deserve closer examination. Shikha Roy, a two-time councillor, achieved a significant upset by defeating AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj in the GK constituency. Similarly, Neelam Pahalwan, a former councillor, secured victory against the sitting MLA in Najafgarh. Rekha Gupta's win against a three-time MLA highlights a shift in voter preferences. These individual stories reveal the complexities of electoral politics and the various factors contributing to the success or failure of individual candidates, irrespective of gender. The contrasting performance of women candidates from different parties suggests the need for a more nuanced understanding of how party strategies, candidate selection processes, and local contexts influence the success of women in elections. The fact that Atishi, from AAP, managed to retain her seat while her party faced a significant defeat emphasizes that the outcomes are not uniformly determined by party performance alone.
The historical context of women's representation in the Delhi assembly is also crucial to understanding the current scenario. The highest number of women MLAs was recorded in 1998, with nine women elected under Congress's Sheila Dikshit's leadership. The number has fluctuated considerably since then, reflecting the shifting political landscape and the changing dynamics of women's participation in politics. The low initial representation of three women MLAs in the first assembly underscores the long journey towards greater inclusivity. The fluctuation in the numbers over subsequent elections – seven in 2003, three in 2008 and 2013, and six in 2015 – demonstrates the inconsistency and the fragility of progress made towards gender balance in legislative bodies. The current decrease in women MLAs after a period of relative improvement serves as a reminder that sustained efforts are necessary to achieve and maintain meaningful gender representation.
Despite the overall decrease in the number of women elected, the election also witnessed increased female participation at the candidacy level. This suggests that, despite the challenges, more women are willing to engage in the political process and compete for office. However, this participation does not necessarily translate into electoral success, highlighting the need to address the systemic and societal barriers that hinder women's political advancement. The increase in female candidacies might be attributed to various factors, including enhanced political awareness, increased mobilization by political parties, and societal shifts that encourage greater female involvement in public life. Analyzing these factors will be crucial to understanding the sustained increase in women seeking political office, which is a positive step despite the dip in electoral success.
The campaigns leading up to the election saw political parties heavily focusing on women voters, promising a range of women-centric initiatives. While these promises might have influenced voting patterns, their impact on the ultimate number of women elected is debatable. The analysis of party manifestos and campaign strategies aimed at women voters will be crucial to understanding whether such efforts translate into tangible gains for women's political participation. The promises of women-focused policies offer an insight into parties' strategies to target this important demographic, but the actual implementation and effect of such promises will only be demonstrably evident through the future performance of the elected representatives. The fact that the number of women elected still remains relatively low despite heightened campaigning attention to women’s issues highlights persistent barriers requiring further investigation and reform.
Source: A faded pink: Five women in new house that earlier had 8