Source: 
Author: 
Date: 
20.03.2017
City: 
Lucknow

With five women ministers, there is 10% representation of women in Yogi Adityanath's ministry-just as many as their overall number-40 out of 403.

Of those who made it, two-time MLA from Lucknow Cantonment Rita Bahuguna Joshi bagged a cabinet berth while BJP women cell state secretary who won elections from Bahraich Sadar seat and debutante politician Swati Singh were sworn in as ministers of state with independent charge. MLA from Chandausi seat Gulab Devi and MLA from Kannauj's Chhibramau seat Archana Pande were also sworn in as minister of state.

But the representation is far less than the quota of 33%. Experts said the problem is rooted in distribution of tickets which is visible in figures. "Patriarchy was all the more glaring during elections. Women leaders are not preferred as candidates, therefore, their representation in the house is a meagre 8-10%," remarked Sanjay Rai, core committee member, Association for Democratic Reforms, UP.

Faculty, Lucknow University, Prof Nishi Pandey blamed lack of political will for it. "Political parties may blame each other for not letting 33% reservation become a reality. BJP, which supports the idea of 33% reservation, giving ministerial berth to only five speaks of their double standard," she remarked.

Of the total candidates fielded by the party, around 8% were women. Ruling SP and BJP were most generous while giving tickets. Congress, the party that mooted the idea of 33% reservation gave only 4% of its tickets to women while BJP that fielded only 3% women candidates. In all, 445 women were in the fray of whom 40 won.

Among the winners, maximum 34 are from BJP, two each from BSP and Congress and one each from SP and Apna Dal (Sonelal). In 2012, 19 women candidates had won on SP ticket, six are from BJP, three each from BSP and Congress, one from Apna Dal and one is independent.


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