Jharkhand’s women leaders who have filed nominations in small numbers compared to large male nominations for upcoming lok Sabha (lS) Elections feel their selection will surely bear fruits in the society. Most of them are representing small parties and acknowledge the same for giving the scope of a ‘lS nominee’.
“CPI-Ml is the only party wherein maximum women have filed nominations in the State. As many as three out of eight nominees are women. This is undoubtedly a good initiative of bringing our gender to the forefront,” said Sushma Mehta, who is contesting from Palamau seat on the ticket of Communist Party of India (Marxist-leninist). Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda’s wife Geeta Koda has filed her nomination from West Singhbhum seat of Jai Bharat Samanta Party (a party formed by her husband in 2009).
She said, “Unless the strength of women in lok Sabha is increased, the ongoing women-centric policies of the government cannot be implemented properly. It is important to encourage women in the present political and educational scenario. Then only we can expect a transformation for development in the Indian society.”
However, social activist Dayamani Barla, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) candidate from Khunti expressed her woe for not giving the opportunity to any woman in contesting from an established nationalist party. “It is sad that none of our state women have been involved under the banner of big political parties. The few of us who have got the scope to represent political parties can bring a change only through our self-abilities.”
Notably, many of the women leaders from districts like Koderma and Chatra are said to file nominations for lS seats as independent or candidates of small parties popular within Jharkhand.