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Priyanka Tikoo in Srinagar
The results of the just concluded Jammu and Kashmir assembly election have proved that the state is no exception in denying a fair representation to women, with less than one per cent making it to the 87-member ninth state assembly.
Though 26 women filed their nominations in the assembly election, Mehbooba Mufti of the People's Democratic Party was the lone woman, who got elected.
Significantly, more than 700 men candidates contested the assembly election.
Many of the women candidates, who failed to make it, said the people of the state were not yet 'mentally comfortable' with a woman representative. Some others blamed the poor show on fear of violence, which restricted their movement during election campaign resulting in less or no awareness about their candidature among the respective constituencies.
Out of the 26 women in the fray, the National Conference fielded four from Noorabad, Wachi and Habbakadal [all from valley] and Jammu West.
The candidates included the Minister of Tourism in the outgoing NC government, Sakina Itoo, who escaped four attacks by militants during poll campaigning.
The Congress party had fielded four candidates, Khemlata Wakhlo from Sonawar, Amren Badr from Budgam, Swaran Lata from Samba and Suman Lata Bhagat from R S Pora.
The major chunk of women candidates this time were independents numbering 10 -- Hafeeza Begum from Pampore, Mehar Noor from Noorabad, Farhat from Dooru, Santosh Suri from Reasi, V R Pathania from Bilawar, Kamla Devi from Ramban, Khlida Tabassum from Amirakadal, Hafiza Begum from Sonawar, Noor Jehan and Minu Jamwal both from Gandhinagar.
All of them failed to make it to the state assembly.
Other political parties, which fielded women candidates were the Nationalist Congress Party with one, Janata Dal-United with one and the Panthers' Party with two.
While Khalida Mushtaq represented the NCP from Devsar, Afroza Qadir of JD-U contested from Amirakadal and Shameema Bedgum from Batmaloo and Shameema Rather from Chadoora were Panthers' Party candidates, who were among the losers.
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