Women's Reservation Bill and Electoral Participation
The Women's Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, mandates that 33% of seats be reserved for women. Despite this, the representation of women in elections remains significantly lower.
Statistics on Women Candidates
- In 20 Assembly polls held across various States and Union Territories (UTs):
- A total of 31,429 candidates contested.
- Only 3,273 (10.2%) of them were women.
- The women candidates did not exceed 14% across these States and UTs.
- In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections:
- Out of 8,360 candidates, only 800 (9.6%) were women.
- 152 constituencies (28%) had zero women candidates.
State-Specific Participation
- States with the highest women candidate representation:
- Odisha (2024) at 13.9%
- Delhi (2025) at 13.7%
- Puducherry (2026) at 13.6%
- Lowest participation:
- Arunachal Pradesh (2024) and Jammu and Kashmir (2024) at 4.9%
Party-Wise Representation in Lok Sabha Polls
- No political party met the 33% benchmark for women candidates.
- Major parties' women candidate percentages:
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC): 13%-16%
- Naam Tamilar Katchi: 50%
- Biju Janata Dal: 33%
- Rashtriya Janata Dal: 29%
- All India Trinamool Congress: 25%
Assembly Polls and Women Representation
- Among national parties:
- INC fielded 33% women candidates only in the Sikkim Assembly election.
- Among state parties:
- Naam Tamilar Katchi fielded 50% women in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu elections.
- CPI(ML)(L) fielded 56% women in West Bengal, 33% in Assam.
- Samajwadi Party: 40% in Rajasthan.
- Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK): 50% in Puducherry.
- Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party: 50% in Delhi.
