Major political players in the Telangana state that apparently support the Women Reservation Bill – a bill that reserved 1/3rd of the total seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies- chose to neglect women while distributing tickets for the assembly polls that are scheduled to take place on December 7 in the state.
The Indian National Congress – who is contesting the assembly polls with an alliance with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and Communist Party of India (CPI)- has just given 11 tickets to women candidates from its total of 100 field candidates. While the ruling TRS has just given 4 tickets to women candidates. The ruling Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) is contesting on all 119 seats all alone in the state.
Defending her party on this move, INC’s Star Campaigner Khusbhu Sundar said that her party was the first one to introduce the Women Reservation Bill and the current BJP led NDA government have no will to get it cleared in Lok Sabha.
“We have given 11 tickets to women candidates against 4 by the ruling TRS, though we have not given 33% but have made a beginning,” she told when asked parties turning blind eyes towards women during ticket distribution.
While the Telugu Desam Party(TDP) who is contesting along with Congress under Mahakutami has given a single ticket to women candidate in its 14 contesting seats. Telangana Jana Samithi has also given a single ticket to women candidate in the state. Bhavani Reddy on TRS ticket will contest from Siddipet Assembly Constituency.
BJP has nominated 14 women candidate out of all 119 seats it is contesting in the upcoming polls.
AIMIM who is just contesting on 8 seats in Hyderabad has no women candidate in their list.
BJP Telangana Chief told media that ‘ We have maintained a social equilibrium while distributing tickets. A total of 14 tickets allotted to women which are highest among all opposition parties, while 38 to Backward Caste, 21 and 12 to SCs and STs”
The CPM led Bahujana Left Front has given 10 women candidates including a transgender.
The voting of the polls will take place on December 11.