Among the 14 constituencies for sixteenth lok Sabha (lS) elections in Jharkhand, Dhanbad and Khunti are representing maximum female candidates. Significantly, three women are contesting from these two constituencies each, whereas in other constituencies it is two, one or nil.
Some of the prominent women in the league are All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party’s Hemlata S Mohan from Dhanbad who is the former Chairperson of Jharkhand State Commission for Women (JSCW) and renowned social activist Dayamani Barla an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Khunti.
Sharing the “tough competition” with male candidates, Mohan on Friday said, “For a women like me who has never been associated with politics, it is undoubtedly a challenge making efforts requesting people to vote for me. This nomination is an opportunity to prove the male leaders of national parties that we too can make a positive mark in local politics.”
“There is an urgent need of developing Dhanbad region. The areas of Jharia and Bokaro have immense scope of business development. Higher education is yet another field here which requires lot of improvement,” added Mohan.
Mohan’s opinion on challenge was supported by Barla. She said, “After the polling of Khunti on Thursday my supporters were beaten by some unidentified people. On April 9, my supporters were tortured by extremists in Arki and Karra blocks forcing them to campaign on behalf of Anos Ekka representing Jharkhand Party. Being a lady I always stood for Khunti denizens to save their water, forest and land. Women can dare to change the deteriorating political system in India.”
In case of campaigning also most of these ladies had to put hard efforts than men. Independent candidate Ritu Rani, a business lady from Dhanbad was noticed doing rallies from morning to late evening on Friday. Sources said that Ritu completes her campaigns by 10 pm these days.“I am spending sleepless nights for past one month. Almost 20 hours of the day is spent interacting with party members and public,” Rani maintained.Khunti’s independent candidate Asrita Tuti said, “I am new to politics and challenges are not a serious issue. Since I am serving people through social work, it is enough that we have got the chance to contest for lok Sabha.”
Overall 14 female candidates are fighting from Jharkhand for lS seats of which six are independent candidates and others are from national or regional political parties. Communist Party of India (Marxist-leninist) (liberation) is leading in this women empowerment as four out of these 14 ladies are from this party.Notably, the polling of 10 constituencies including Chatra, Koderma, lohardaga, Palamau, Giridih, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Singhbhum, Khunti and Hazaribagh were held on April 10 and 17.
While, the polling of remaining four constituencies comprising Rajmahal, Dumka, Godda and Dhanbad are scheduled on April 24 wherein except RajMahal the other three constituencies have five female candidates. Besides Rajmahal, constituencies of Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, lohardaga and Giridih have no female nominees.