This story is from April 6, 2019

Just 10 women candidates in first phase of Lok Sabha polls in UP

Just 10 women candidates in first phase of Lok Sabha polls in UP
Tabassum Hasan , the Member of Parliament from UP's Kairana.
SAHARANPUR: Despite claims by political parties to give adequate representation to women in the electoral politics, the number of women candidates in fray is abysmally low.
Out of 96 candidates contesting eight Parliamentary seats including Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Kairana, Saharanpur, Bijnore, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Bagpat which will be going to polls on April 11 under the first phase in UP, there are just 10 women.
Moreover, only two of them have been fielded by recognized parties – Tabassum Hasan in Kairana (SP) and Dolly Sharma in Ghaziabad (Congress). Remaining eight are either fielded by smaller parties or independents.
Around 1.50 crore voters including 82.24 lakh male and 68.39 lakh female would lock the fate of their MPs in the first phase, which has such big names as Union ministers VK Singh (Ghaziabad), Dr Mahesh Sharma ( Gautam Budh Nagar) and Dr Satyapal Singh (Bagpat) are in fray from BJP.
Besides, the fate of Rastriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh (Muzaffarnagar) and his son Jayant singh (Bagpat) would also be sealed. However, prominent parties have not given much room to women candidates. So much so that three constituencies – Gautam Budh Nagar, Bijnore and Muzaffarnagar – are all made affairs.
The highest of 13 candidates each are in fray at Kairana, Gautam Budh Nagar, Bijnore and Bagpat, followed by 12 in Ghaziabad and 11 each in Meerut and Saharanpur. Lowest 10 candidates are fray from Muzaffarnagar seat.
SP spokesperson Richa Singh, however, claimed that "her party offered tickets to three women candidates in its list from Khiri, Hardoi and Kannauj".
Meanwhile, Mukund Tiwari, UPCC general secretary said, "Congress would be fielding more women candidates in 2019 parliamentary polls across the country".

BJP general secretary and in charge of western UP, Vijay B Pathak said "party has given tickets to its seven sitting MPs”. He, however, claimed "we have also fielded sitting MP Hema Malini and ex-MP Jaya Prada from Mathua and Rampur parliamentary constituencies respectively."
The strength of women voters could be turned in a decisive factor in all constituencies including Meerut (8.6 lakh out of 18.21 lakh electorates) , Bagpat ( 7.13 lakh out of 15.92 lakh ), Kairana ( 8 lakh out of 16.4 lakh total electorates) , Muzaffarnagar ( 7.72 lakh out of 16.85 lakh total electorates), Bijnore ( 7.7 lakh out of 16.51 lakh total electorates), and Saharanpur ( 8 lakh out of 17.22 lakh total electorates ).
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About the Author
Kapil Dixit

Kapil Dixit is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Mass Communications. He has covered crime at regional as well as state level. His hobbies include reading, writing and meeting people with diverse interests.

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