Guj Poll: It's a 'taboo' for women to contest elections?

Ahmedabad, Nov 28: Why only 16 women candidates have been fielded by political parties for phase one of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012? The answer, according to Gujarat Mahila Federation (GMF) President Ila Pathak, an organisation working for women's empowerment, is that women are not allowed to dabble into politics because it is considered a "taboo" to do so.

She added that male politicians are well-connected locally and in rural areas, there are not enough women candidates who can enter the fray and that is why, political parties have less number of seats for women to contest.

Statistics shows that only 16 women candidates have been fielded by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), opposition Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) for phase one of the Gujarat Assembly polls.

While the BJP has fielded 11 women candidates, the Congress has named just five candidates and GPP has fielded only one women candidate.

The phase one of Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012 will see voting for 87 assembly seats. The phase one is slated on Dec 13, when voting will happen across Saurashtra, South Gujarat and four seats in western Ahmedabad district.

The Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), a new entrant into the political battlefield this year, is headed by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

Now, the question is with such less number of women candidates in election fray, what will happen to Women's Reservation Bill that provides 33 per cent reservation?

OneIndia News