Itanagar: The women form the majority of the electorate in Arunachal Pradesh but when it comes to contesting elections the numbers are at the odds with their population, with only 6 of them joining the fray for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections.
The state has 3,77,272 women electorate against 3,75,898 males, with several assembly constituencies having more women voters than males. The are in fray in only six Assembly seats in the state and in none of the two Lok Sabha seats.
Arunachal will hold simultaneous polls for the 60-member Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in the second phase of voting on April 9. Congress has this time fielded two women candidates – Karya Bagang (Chayangtajo) and Gum Tayeng from Dambuk constituencies compare to none from the BJP.
NCP has fielded Taba Nirmali (Yachuli) and the People’s Party of Arunachal has nominated Toko Sheetal for the prestigious Itanagar LS seat. Yai Mara (Likabali) and Anita Payeng (Lekang) are contesting as independents.
The limited participation of women has irked the chairperson of Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women chairperson Gumri Ringu. “All political parties before election assure to provide opportunity to women but the real scenario changes when time comes,” she said while lamenting that in the male-dominated Arunachalee society, women were always neglected.
She also blamed the fair sex for not coming out of their homes to participate in the electoral process. National Alliance of Women secretary Jarjum Ete, however, said the sudden dissolution of the house on March 6 was the reason behind the low participation of women candidates. Toko Sheetal, the PPA candidate for Itanagar Assembly constituency agreed that there were few women in active politics. (PTI)
