By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: “Are Meghalaya women shunning politics?”
This question seems relevant and topical in ‘Matrilineal Meghalaya’ as very few women are keen to jump into the political arena in the State which is going to polls on February 23.
Altogether 15 women candidates are being fielded by political parties, while three women are set to fight as Independents. However, the exact number of Independent women candidates would be known only on the last day of filing of nominations (February 6).
Political parties have revealed that very few or no women candidates have been put up since a very less number of women had applied for the party ticket this time.
Leaders and representatives of various political parties, both national and regional, have admitted that women are not showing active interest in State politics.
“It is unfortunate that not a single female candidate applied for ticket in our party. We have requested women members of our party to encourage women to apply for tickets but no application was received,” National People’s Party (NPP) leader Conrad Sangma said.
According to Sangma, the situation is common to every political party.
“Agatha Sangma (former Union Minister of State) and Veena Nair (NPP vice president) are keen that the party takes interest in this issue,” Sangma said.
Congress working president and former MLA, Deborah Ch Marak, said, “I hope all our women candidates win this time as we have given tickets to the better candidates.”
She said that the party has allotted tickets to six women candidates for the coming election, while adding that most of the women applicants had been given the Congress ticket.
UDP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo M Lanong, informed that the party has given tickets to five female candidates this time.
NCP State president Sanbor Shullai, while talking on the issue, said that electorates should be wise to see whether they need a male or a female legislator.
“The time has come to see that electorates choose the person they trust and have confidence on the candidate whether a male or a female,” he said.
The Congress has fielded six women candidates, while the UDP has put up five. The NCP has two woman candidates while there is one woman candidate each from the BJP and the HSPDP.