Election Representatives: Women's Representation in Bihar Election Row

In the political landscape of Bihar, the upcoming Assembly elections are heating up, and the question of equal representation for women is at the forefront. Anshu Kumari, the granddaughter of the legendary "Mountain man of India," Dashrath Manjhi, has expressed her desire to contest in these elections.

Anshu Kumari, a member of the Bhuiyan caste (Mahadalit category), resides in a humble abode spread over 2.5 katha (0.078 acres), primarily made of straw and mud. Despite her humble beginnings, Anshu works as an Anganwadi teacher and is looking after her handicapped father and family.

However, the benefits of reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are not reaching a majority of women, and shadow politics is still prevalent. The concept of a husband assuming decision-making roles despite his wife holding elected positions is common. Bihar was the first state in India to reserve 50% of seats for women in PRIs, but the focus often shifts towards increasing the number of seats rather than allocating more tickets to women candidates.

D M Diwakar, a political analyst, believes that social justice has not been fully delivered to women in Bihar, particularly those from poverty-stricken and backward social structures. This contributes to their poor representation in Assembly elections.

The JD(U) has launched several schemes for women empowerment, including a cycle scheme for girls, 50% reservation for women in panchayats, primary agriculture credit societies, cooperative societies, 35% reservation of women in government jobs, and total prohibition in Bihar. However, political parties nowadays prefer candidates with strong financial backgrounds, and the winning possibilities of candidates often take precedence over gender.

The Congress party, as part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, is emphasizing a strong demand for a significant number of Assembly seats in the upcoming 2025 Bihar elections. The party aims to contest around 70 seats, the same number as in the 2020 elections, and has indicated that their support for Tejashwi Yadav’s potential Chief Ministership depends on securing this allocation.

However, there is no specific public information yet about internal Congress party policies or efforts explicitly targeting ticket allocation to women candidates in Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections. The search results do not mention Congress’s explicit strategy or a quota for women candidates on its electoral ticket list.

The state government of Bihar, not the Congress party, has taken notable steps towards increasing women's representation in government jobs by approving a 35% reservation for women native to Bihar in all direct appointments in state government services. This reflects a larger political environment sensitive to women's participation but is a government policy, not a party electoral ticket distribution policy.

As Rahul Gandhi visited Anshu Kumari's ancestral home to pay homage to Dashrath Manjhi, Anshu asked Gandhi for a ticket in the upcoming State Assembly elections. Gandhi has assured Anshu that he will give her the ticket.

Nitish Kumar Tantan, a former State President of the Sawaran (upper caste) Cell JD(U), states that the party gives priority to the strongest candidates in the Assembly elections, regardless of gender, and supports the Women Reservation Bill. However, they cannot introduce reservation of seats without the nod from the Central Government or the Bill becoming an Act.

Meetings and discussions are being held by different political parties to address key issues, but it remains to be seen whether increasing the number of women elected to the assembly and addressing issues specific to women's empowerment are a priority. Prem Shankar Mishra, a veteran leader of the Congress, is of the opinion that it is too early to clearly state anything about allocating tickets to women candidates like Anshu Kumari in the upcoming Assembly election.

As the political landscape of Bihar continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see whether political parties' claims of giving equal representation to women during ticket distribution in the polls are real or remain a false promise, and whether women like Anshu Kumari finally get a chance to contest elections. The JD(U) has announced that 40 women would be contesting in 40 seats across Bihar, and if other parties follow suit, the 2025 Assembly elections could mark a significant step towards gender equality in Bihar's political arena.

Anshu Kumari wants to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.
Anshu Kumari lives in a humble abode and works as an Anganwadi teacher.
Despite benefits of reservation, many women in Bihar are still underrepresented in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Shadow politics continues to be a problem for women seeking representation in Bihar.
D M Diwakar believes that social justice for women in Bihar is incomplete.
The JD(U) has launched several schemes for women empowerment in Bihar.
The Congress party is aiming for 70 Assembly seats in the 2025 Bihar elections.
Rahul Gandhi has assured Anshu Kumari a ticket in the upcoming State Assembly elections.
Nitish Kumar Tantan states that the JD(U) gives priority to the strongest candidates in Assembly elections.
Meetings are being held to address issues specific to women's empowerment in Bihar.
Prem Shankar Mishra feels it's too early to discuss ticket allocation for women candidates like Anshu Kumari.
The JD(U) plans to field 40 women candidates in 40 seats for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The political landscape of Bihar is evolving with regards to women's representation.
It remains to be seen whether political parties will make good on their promises for equal representation.
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