Shimla: (*72*) three girls have made it to the Lok Sabha from Himachal Pradesh prior to now 72 years and this time, simply two are within the fray. Women represent virtually 49 per cent of the full voters within the state. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Chandresh Kumari and Pratibha Singh, the three profitable candidates until now belonged to royal households. (*72*) the BJP and the BSP have nominated girls candidates for the June 1 elections for the 4 Lok Sabha seats within the state. While the BJP has fielded actor Kangana Ranaut from Mandi, Rekha Rani is contesting on a BSP ticket from Kangra.
“Women from humble background rising high in politics and carving a niche for themselves is still a big challenge in the country and Himachal Pradesh is no exception. At present, women constitute about 49 per cent of the total voters in the state but representation is not even one fourth and this is a cause of serious concern,” stated Ramesh Chauhan, head of the division of political science at Himachal Pradesh University. In politics, what issues is who has the decision-making energy. This energy is often with males and till girls are given outstanding positions, they might not emerge as “empowered” and surpass their dominant male counterparts, Chauhan advised PTI.
According to Kamal Manohar Sharma, who additionally teaches political science at Himachal Pradesh University, the standing of ladies has been excessive within the state and even earlier than reservation for girls was launched, girls pradhans had been elected in Mandi, Kinnaur and Kangra districts. But girls weren’t so eager to climb the ladder to the meeting, he claimed. Moreover, the political events additionally didn’t promote or encourage the ladies with humble background, he added. Political events go all out to woo the ladies voters however in relation to declaring candidates, girls get few alternatives, the political consultants felt. To add to it, participation of ladies voters surpass male voters particularly in rural areas however nonetheless few girls get elected, they added.
A complete of 56,38,422 voters – 28,79,200 male, 27,59,187 feminine and 35 third gender individuals – are eligible to train their franchise for the seats of Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla (SC) within the seventh and final part of polling on June 1.
Amrit Kaur, India’s first well being minister who hailed from the royal household of Kapurthala, was elected to Lok Sabha from Mandi constituency in 1952. Thereafter, no lady acquired a ticket until 1984. However, in 1984, Chandresh Kumari from the royal household of Jodhpur who was married in Himachal Pradesh, was fielded by the Congress from Kangra and received because the social gathering swept the election, using on the sympathy wave following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Pratibha Singh, spouse of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls in 1998. However, she received the elections in 2004 when her husband was the chief minister. In 2009, Virbhadra Singh was elected to Lok Sabha from Mandi however he give up after changing into chief minister in 2012 and his spouse Pratibha Singh received the by-election in 2013.
She once more contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 however misplaced to Ram Swaroop of BJP, who was re-elected in 2019. But the seat fell vacant when Ram Swaroop died in March 2021 and Pratibha Singh received for the third time within the by-election held in November 2021 after the demise of Virbhadra Singh.
In 2014, the AAP fielded Kargil struggle hero Capt Vikram Batra’s mom Kamal Kanta Batra from Hamirpur however she polled solely 15,329 votes and misplaced. Even within the 68-member state meeting, the illustration of ladies has been abysmally low and no lady was elected until 1967. (*72*) one lady entered the meeting in 1977 and 2022. However, the very best variety of seven girls was elected to the state meeting within the 1998 elections.
So far, eight girls have been elected to Rajya Sabha from the state.
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