Parties cite ‘winnability factor’ to keep away women despite vehement demandsDespite their tall claims about gender equality and women empowerment, political parties are facing an uphill task to field women candidates even as they are discussing seat-sharing among themselves and also beginning selection of nominees in key segments for the April 6 Assembly polls. Already women affiliates of mainstream political parties along with their youth organisations have been clamouring for a respectable representation for them. Despite vehement demands within their parties, both the IUML and the Kerala Congress (M) of the Congress- led United Democratic Front did not give tickets to their women leaders in the 2016 Assembly polls. The Samastha Kerala Jamiat-ul-Ulema, the influential Sunni cleric forum which supports the IUML, is said to be against women entering the political arena. Seats are offered to women in the three-tier local body polls only because of the rule that 50 % of the seats have been reserved for them.

Source: The Hindu March 01, 2021 13:54 UTC