Cash assistance, subsidised LPG cylinders, free education from kindergarten to postgraduation, and free rides on urban public transport — it is election season in five States and political parties are bending over backwards to woo women voters with a slew of promises. Coupled with the historic passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Special Session of Parliament in September, it would seem that women have arrived electorally in the country.
That is not the whole story, however, as a closer look at poll statistics reveals. While most political parties recognise the emergence of women as a voting bloc who can swing elections, offering them polls sops, a similar commitment seems to be lacking when it comes to giving tickets to women candidates.
