Punjab Falls Short of Women Candidates Despite 33% Reservation

In Punjab, the proportion of women candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections is significantly below the 33% reservation mandated by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Mainstream political parties have announced only six women candidates out of a total of 52 nominees for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. This stark gender disparity contrasts with the commitment made by major political parties to support the women’s reservation bill, passed with overwhelming parliamentary support last year.

Despite the bill’s passage and backing from various political factions, the representation of women in electoral politics remains inadequate. In previous elections, women constituted only 15% to 13% of the candidates fielded by major parties like the Congress, AAP, and the SAD-BJP alliance. While parties advocated for immediate implementation of the 33% women quota, they have failed to translate their rhetoric into action.

The BJP, contesting all 13 seats independently for the first time since 1996, has fielded notable women candidates, including Preneet Kaur, Anita Som Prakash, and Parampal Kaur. Similarly, the Congress and SAD have nominated Yamini Gomar and Amarjit Kaur Sahoke, respectively. However, the AAP, which previously fielded women candidates, has not nominated any this time.

Despite the low representation in the current elections, Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed a commitment to women empowerment, highlighting the presence of 11 women legislators in the AAP, two of whom are ministers. He pledged to field more women candidates in future elections, signaling a potential shift towards greater gender inclusivity in Punjab’s political landscape.