Fifty per cent reservation for women in the municipal corporations and zilla parishad elections is not enough. Political parties want to go a step ahead.
They will devote a section in their election manifestoes on problems faced by women in rural and urban areas.
Empowered by the quota move, women representatives urged parties to highlight the problems faced by women in their manifestos. “The party’s leadership said they would have to bring women higher on their agenda as they have now become equal partners in electoral politics,” said a senior NCP general secretary.
The stage in the NCP has been set by member of Parliament Supriya Sule, who has been raising the issue against the declining sex ratio in the state. The top leadership of the Congress, the NCP, Shiv Sena and the BJP feel that women representation in electoral politics will not work if their problems are ignored.
Price rise, which strikes an instant chord with women, will be the main poll plank for the Shiv Sena and BJP.
Shaina NC, BJP national executive member, said the security of women is the biggest challenge to be resolved.
“We will have to work for a conducive atmosphere for women. How can we expect girls in rural areas to travel several kilometres to institutions which are not equipped with basic facilities like toilets?” said Shaina.
Minister for women and child welfare Varsha Gaikwad said, “The issue of female foeticide is a challenge for the society. We will have to constantly hammer out the issue through every available platform, including the elections.”
