SHILLONG: Women voters in as many as 25 constituencies in KHADC and 26 in JHADC will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the contesting candidates but the paradox is that there are only nine women candidates in the fray.
Out of the nine candidates, there is only one for the JHADC polls.
KHADC and JHADC have 29 seats each.
In KHADC, there are only four district council constituencies where men voters outnumber women. They are Jirang, Mawhati, Rambrai-Jyrngam and Mawshynrut. In JHADC, the three constituencies where men outnumber women voters are Saipung, Narpuh and Bataw Lakadong.
Curiously, the political parties could not field more women candidates as the number in KHADC is just eight and only one woman candidate, Violet Lyngdoh from NPP, is contesting JHADC seat in Rymbai-Khliehriat.
The ruling NPP has fielded only one candidate while PDF has nominated three, UDP two, Congress and HSPDP one each and one Independent.
When contacted, many political parties attributed the selection of candidates to the winnability factor irrespective of gender.
