Even after the passage of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill aimed at bolstering women's participation in electoral politics, the ground reality speaks of a different narrative in Arunachal Pradesh. Only a few women are contesting in the simultaneous polls to two Lok Sabha seats and 50 Assembly constituencies to be held in this northeastern state on April 19.
Toko Sheetal, a greenhorn representing the Gana Suraksha Party, is the only woman among the 14 contestants for the two Lok Sabha seats – Arunachal East and Arunachal West.
Only eight women filed nominations for 50 assembly seats. The ruling BJP has fielded four, the Opposition Congress nominated three, while there is one independent candidate.
