Where are the Women in India’s Political Parties?

Women’s representation in Indian politics remains critically low. This underrepresentation is a major challenge for India’s ambition to establish a truly participative democracy.

Current Landscape of Women’s Underrepresentation

• In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, only 13.6% of Women Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected, a decrease from 14.9% in 2019.
  • In Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) appointed two women to its national leadership, a first in 75 years of history.
• At the state level, women constitute a mere 9% of candidates in State Assembly elections, and no single state boasts more than 20% women MLAs. 
  • For instance, states like Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh have only 4.9% women legislators, while Odisha has 13.9%.
• Globally, India’s standing is particularly poor, ranking 143rd out of 185 countries in women’s parliamentary representation.
  • This situation is exemplified by recent political party decisions; in Gujarat, for example, the Congress party appointed only one woman among its 40 new district presidents, while the BJP appointed two, underscoring the limited opportunities for women in party leadership roles even at the local level.

Key Barriers to Women’s Political Entry

• Political System and Hierarchy: Women are often not allowed to ascend to leadership roles within political parties. 
  • If women cannot rise within parties, they cannot secure tickets to contest elections, making their entry into parliament or state assemblies nearly impossible.
• The ‘Winability Myth’: Political parties frequently cite the ‘winability myth,’ arguing that women candidates are less likely to win elections because they lack prior political work or visibility. 
  • This argument perpetuates a cycle where women are not given opportunities to develop their political careers, thus reinforcing the perception that they are not ‘winnable’.
• Lack of Political Will: Despite widespread support for women’s reservation, political parties often lack the genuine political will to implement internal quotas or promote internal party democracy that would facilitate women’s entry. 
• Technical Delays in Legal Provisions: While the Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was passed, aiming for 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies, it is technically not implementable until 2029 due to the requirement for delimitation based on the next census. 
• High Cost Of Elections: Running elections is a costly affair, and women often lack independent financial resources or ownership, making it difficult for them to fund their campaigns.
• Patriarchal Mindset: Deep-seated patriarchal mindsets and societal stereotypes burden women with domestic responsibilities, making it challenging for them to fully participate in politics. 

Way Forward

• Women Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhikaran): The Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • However, to make the Women’s Reservation Bill truly impactful, political parties must invest in training and mentoring women leaders at the grassroots. 
• Aspirational Women Leaders: Political parties must actively identify and groom aspirational women leaders within their party cadres or from external sources like Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Panchayats.
  • The 73rd and 74th amendments, which provide for up to 50% reservation for women in Panchayats, offer a rich pool of experienced women leaders who can be brought into mainstream politics.
• Women in Organizational Structures: Once identified, women must be integrated into the core organizational structures of political parties, providing them opportunities to learn from experienced leaders and develop their political scope.
• Internal Party Quotas: It is crucial for political parties to adopt internal quota systems for ticket distribution, aiming initially for targets like 10-15%, which can gradually be increased. 
  • Countries like Iceland, Finland, South Africa, the UK, and New Zealand have seen good women’s representation even without national quotas because their political parties voluntarily implemented internal quotas. 
  • Example:  Australia’s Labour Party constitution mandates equitable women’s participation at the state branch level.
• Empowering Women in Decision-Making: Women must be given significant roles in decision-making bodies within parties, rather than being confined to peripheral roles.
• Financial Support: Policies must be established to provide financial support to women candidates for election campaigns, similar to Canada’s Udy Lamarque Fund for Liberal Party women candidates.
• Safe Environment and Mentorship: Political parties need to create a supportive culture and infrastructure, including codes of conduct against sexual harassment and building a support system for women. 
  • Male leaders must be educated to view women as allies, not threats to their power. 
  • Capacity building and mentorship programs are also vital to equip women for leadership roles.
• Shifting Societal Mindsets: Beyond political and legal reforms, there is an overarching need to promote women’s leadership and change societal attitudes that limit women’s participation in public life.

Conclusion

Implementing these measures will not only enhance women’s representation but also strengthen India’s democratic foundations, moving beyond mere last-minute reservation measures towards genuine women empowerment and participation.