Even as Rajasthan is poised to get its first ever woman chief minister, a close look at the results shows that the electorate is not favourably inclined towards having women legislators.
Of the record number of 114 women contestants this time, only 12 were successful.
Frontrunner BJP fielded 21 women, including chief ministerial candidate Vasundhara Raje. But only nine of them have been able to make it to the assembly.
Raje got resounding support by winning her seat by over 27,000 votes.
Congress, which had 13 women MLAs in the outgoing house, had fielded 19 women candidates but only one of them won. Even Deputy Chief Minister Kamla Beniwal lost heavily by over 25,500 votes.
Two women contesting as independents also emerged victorious.
The outgoing house had 14 women members, 13 Congress and an independent.
A maximum number of 17 women made it to the assembly in 1985 followed by 13 in 1972, 11 in 1990, 10 in 1980 and 1993, nine in 1957, eight in 1977 and 1962 each, and six in 1967.
No woman could succeed in the first assembly elections in 1952. However, two women entered the house later in bye-elections.
{{/usCountry}}No woman could succeed in the first assembly elections in 1952. However, two women entered the house later in bye-elections.
{{/usCountry}}