The Lok Sabha elections’ 2024 first two phases saw only 8% of candidates being women out of a total of 1,618 candidates. Critics argue that this imbalance reflects deep-seated gender bias, questioning the sincerity of talks about women’s empowerment.
In phase one, 135 women contested, with Tamil Nadu having the most at 76, though they only make up 8% of the state’s candidates. Kerala led in phase two with 24 female candidates. The Congress fielded 44 women, while the BJP had 69 in the first two phases.
Experts like Dr. Sushila Ramaswamy urge parties to proactively promote female candidates, citing successful examples from other countries. With women forming nearly half of India’s voters, their underrepresentation raises concerns about barriers to their political participation.
Calls for structural reforms, mentorship programs, and awareness campaigns emphasize the need for tangible steps beyond symbolic gestures. Despite promises in party manifestos, the actual number of female candidates remains low, highlighting a persistent gender bias in politics.
