In the first elections after independence, there were four women candidates in fray in the state but none of them could win. But fate finally smiled in 1953 bypolls and Yashoda Devi became the first woman MLA of a patriarchal state from Banswara constituency.
In 1953, there was a bypoll on the Banswara seat after the election of Samyukta Socialist Party candidate Bhelji was declared illegal. Yashoda Devi Praja, a candidate of the Socialist Party secured 63.75 per cent votes and won the elections. She got a total of 14,862 votes and her immediate rival, Congress candidate Natwarlal, got a mere 36.25 per cent (8451) votes. The margin was a whopping 6,411 votes!
The first four women candidates — Chiranji Devi from Phagi of Krishikar Lok Party, Samajwadi Party candidate from Jaipur City, Shanta Devi as an independent from Udaipur City and Rani Devi from Jansangh Party from Sojat Assembly seat — may not have won, but they all smiled.
Life & times of state’s first woman MLA
Born in 1927 in Ujjain, MP, Yashoda Devi was educated at Banasthali Vidhyapeeth and Bheel Ashram in Bamania. She worked for women upliftment, supported the anti-Riyasat drive and played a major role in anti-liquor campaign. She went on to become a member of empowered committee and chairman and general secretary of Akhil Hindu Vanwasi Mahila Panchayat. In April 2003, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat bestowed her with ‘Adarsh Nari’ title. She died on January 3 in 2004.
