Mainstream political parties collectively fielded only seven women candidates out of a total of 52 in 14 assembly constituencies of the district in the upcoming elections.
The under-representation of 13.46% came after former Mahila Congress president Lathika Subhash bowed her head in protest against the alleged patriarchal order in political parties and the party refused to give her a seat.
Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have zero female candidates in Ernakulam. “We expected the party to field at least one female candidate from Ernakulam,” he said. Although we are disappointed, because committed and disciplined party workers we accept that decision and not for a minute, can we accept the manner of protest adopted by Ms. Subhash, ”Lali Joffin, District Congress Committee Secretary General And the former Ernakulam district president of the woman said. Congress.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Being the only female candidate out of eight candidates from Aluva Assembly Constituency did not fare better with Shelna Nishad, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) fared worse than men with both its candidates in the district. Among the allies of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition, the Kerala Congress (Mani) fielded one woman candidate, Sindhumol Jacob, from Pirvom, while the Janata Dal (Secular) gave its only ticket to Jose Theatril. There are even two LDF-backed independent men.
“The situation is improving at the moment with the party appearing in the fielding of 14 women candidates across the state. Women’s empowerment does not just mean financial empowerment and it also calls for political empowerment.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), comprising three women out of the 11 candidates in the district, performed comparatively better, with 27.27% women participation. The party won TP Sindhu Mol from Perumbavoor, Padmaja S. from Ernakulam. Renu Suresh was fielded from Menon and Kunnathunad assembly constituencies. However, Bharath Dharma Jan Sena, partner of the National Democratic Alliance, gave all three tickets to the men.
Two of the eight candidates in the Twenty20 are women, representing 25%, with Chitramkumar and Shiney Antony contesting from Perumbavoor and Kochi assembly segments respectively. Party sources said the initial plan was to ensure 50% participation of women, but the party could not find suitable candidates for Thorikakara and Ernakulam constituencies. But the party was determined to ensure 50% reservation in the selection of candidates in all future elections, sources said.
The state-wide version of V4 People, the apolitical outfit V4 Kochi, was formed just before the last local body elections, however, the district could not include a single woman from any of its three candidates. “Our plan was to field a female candidate from Thripunithura, but she did not. However, going forward, we will make the participation of women an integral policy in our electoral contests.
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