April 2, 2013:
Political scenario in the state is getting hotter with all major political parties are busy in finalizing tickets. Women wings of all political parties are demanding for more seats. They are even pressurizing their political mentors to give at good share to women this time. Will they get their right share is the question of the hour.
Their numbers in formal decision-making bodies have not increased over the years. Statistical records show that there has been only a marginal increase in the last few decades in the number of women candidates fielded during the elections.
The statistics clearly indicate that women representation in the state assembly was in double figures only three times during the past six decades of Indian independence. (See Table-I) During these years, none of the women politicians were even a strong contender for the post of the Chief Minister.
Only three out of 107 women, who contested the elections, emerged victorious in 2008. Another three women got elected in the by-polls – but due to sympathy factor!
The sorry state of affair for the women politicians is that they are forced to fight for their due. Political parties come forward to give tickets to women in three conditions – sympathy, influence, or as a scapegoat.
All major political party readily gives tickets to a woman if she is a widow or daughter of a senior politician and the sympathy factor works for their benefit. Take the history of Mandya district for example. Men and women voters are almost equal in the district. So far eight women have been elected from the district. Barring Mallajamma all other seven were elected due to sympathy factor (See table-II).
Those women who are family members or very close to senior and very influential leaders of the party are also sure of getting party tickets.
Apart from these, party tickets are also given to women under very special conditions. Here party is sure of losing the constituency and trying a experiment with the women candidate. The candidates may emerge victorious in certain occasion, but most of the time they will be a “scape goat”.
Though women have been entering the political arena they are denied positions of power. Even when a few women have been given decision-making positions they do not have political allies in key positions to support them.
Also those in power are invariably given ‘soft portfolios’ which are an extension of women’s stereotypical images. These portfolios rarely have the resources or decision-making powers to back women and therefore relegate them again to the backseat.
Women’s participation in political processes is impeded due to various social, economic, historical, geographical, political and cultural factors. Illiteracy, women’s triple burden, patriarchal values, lack of access and control over income and other resources, restrictions to public spaces and insensitive legal systems continue to impair their effective political participation. This is compounded by the absence/inadequate availability of infrastructural facilities and support services to facilitate their participation.
The political domain continues to be perceived as best suited for men and therefore remains very male dominated. Today, the political environment is deeply entrenched with corruption and criminalization.
Women who have entered the political process are faced with a lot of resistance. There are many instances where they have been subjected to physical violence, threats and intimidation.
This situation needs to be changed as women have the potential to defuse and transform the mainstream political culture, by making it more transparent, accountable and participative. They can also positively contribute to the process of de-criminalizing politics, which in turn would provide a conducive environment for their entry and effective participation in politics, thus facilitating the achievement of substantive equality for women.
Finally, there is a legitimate concern that electoral quotas do not really have a long-term solution. An environment should be created wherein women choose to come into power bereft of their men’s support, but on their own right, on their own terms and in a position to build and sustain their constituencies.
