Only six women triumphed in K'taka Assembly polls in 1999

As political parties chant 'mantra' of women's empowerment, the fair sex got a bad deal in the 1999 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

As the political parties chant the 'mantra' of women's empowerment, the fair sex got a bad deal in the 1999 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

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Under the guise of "winnability" criterion, all the major political parties prefer to give symbolic representation to women, while issuing tickets in the election.

In the 1999 Assembly elections, major parties Congress, BJP, JDU and JDS together fielded 33 women for the 224 seats.

While Congress allotted them 13 constituencies, JDS allotted 11, BJP five and JDU four.

Among the 62 women, who tested their fortunes, including 24, who contested as independents, only six triumphed in the last elections.

Interestingly, all the six elected women belonged to the Congress, which returned to power in the state. Women contestants from other parties and two dozen independents were unlucky not to enter the state Assembly.