Bilal Bashir Bhat
The upcoming elections for the 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, scheduled for May 13, 2024, have drawn attention to the limited participation of female candidates.
In a glaring reflection of gender disparity in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir’s capital city Srinagar, only two female candidates have emerged for the upcoming elections from the Srinagar Constituency. This revelation comes despite the state having previously seen a female chief minister, signaling a persistent gender gap in political representation.
The data spanning from 2009 to 2024 paints a stark picture, with only four candidates contesting elections from the Srinagar Constituency within this timeframe. In the 2019 elections, not a single female candidate stood for election, while in both 2009 and 2014, there were only two female candidates, namely Khalida Begum and Rabia Altaf, respectively.
Among the scant contenders, Rubina Akhtar from the National LokTantrik Party, hailing from Jammu Division, stands out. With no criminal record and holding a 12th-grade qualification, Akhtar represents a noteworthy addition to the ballot. Similarly, Wahida Tabasum, an independent candidate originally from Ganderbal, brings her educational background in Bachelor of Arts to the electoral arena.
During the scrutiny of nomination papers, out of 39 submissions, 29 were deemed valid by the Election Commission of India’s guidelines. Notably, Suraya Nissar’s candidacy was rejected due to invalid documents.
The recent legislative efforts to address this issue have come from the Narendra Modi-led government. In the previous year, the Parliament passed two significant bills aimed at promoting gender inclusivity in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2023 extend women’s reservation in Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry Assemblies. The former specifically seeks to reserve one-third of all elected seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for women, including those designated for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
As the election date approaches, the spotlight remains on the gender disparity in political representation, urging stakeholders to address the underlying factors hindering the participation of women in electoral processes.
