Women still to get 33% reservation in Bihar polls

No political party has given 33 per cent reservation to women in the 2010 assembly polls in Bihar despite accounting for nearly half of the total 5.5 crore electorate.

No political party has given 33 per cent reservation to women in the 2010 assembly polls in Bihar despite accounting for nearly half of the total 5.5 crore electorate.

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If the four major political players - the ruling JD (U), BJP, Congress, RJD and LJP, besides major left parties are to be taken into account, then the women candidates in fray are just 87 so far.

The ruling JD (U) and BJP have fielded maximum 24 and 11 women candidates, despite the two major NDA allies having set a model to provide 50 per cent seats for women in the panchayati raj institutions and civic bodies.

The RJD and LJP, opposing the passage of the Women's reservation Bill in the present form and favouring a quota within quota, have fielded six and seven candidates respectively.

The Congress, which is contesting all 243 assembly seats in Bihar, has fielded 23 women, while the major left parties - CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML (Liberation) have fielded three, two and eleven candidates respectively.

This only speaks about the roadblocks in the progress of women for whom, their secured domain still remains their home and not the political arena, remarks social activist Nivedita.

The first phase poll in Bihar, involving 47 constituencies, will be held on October 21.