Women Reservation: ‘Nari Shakti’ still waiting! The percentage of women voters increased, but why did the candidates decrease?

Female Candidates Assembly Elections 2026: Although Parliament approved the historic ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ in 2023, its actual implementation by 2026 is still in doubt. The connection between women’s reservation and ‘delimitation’ has deepened the differences between the ruling and opposition parties.

The implementation of Women Reservation depends on the constituencies reconstitution after the new census. However, this provision could not be implemented till 2026 due to delays and technical complications in the process.

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Although all parties have supported women’s reservation in principle, opposition parties have vehemently opposed linking the implementation of reservation with constituency realignment. They allege that this is causing unnecessary delay in reservation.

Despite the passage of the 33 percent reservation bill in 2023, the actual representation of women has only marginally increased, according to subsequent election data. Although there seems to be an all-party consensus on increasing women’s participation in politics, the picture shows that the commitment of political parties at the level of ticket distribution and actual implementation is lacking.

Election data from the Union Territories of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry show that while most parties have increased the number of women candidates, the increase falls far short of the target of 33 percent.

How many women candidates in West Bengal?

According to a report in an English news channel, the Congress has fielded 35 women candidates in West Bengal, compared to just 7 in 2021. This time, the party is contesting all 291 seats compared to 92 seats in 2021 in alliance with CPI(M). Due to this, the share of women candidates has increased from 7.6 percent to 11.9 percent.

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The Trinamool Congress, which already has a woman Chief Minister, has also slightly increased the number of women candidates. In 2021, 48 women were given tickets, this figure has increased to 52 now. This means the percentage has increased from 16.55 to 17.86.

There is also an interesting note from the BJP questioning the opposition for opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill. Last time BJP fielded 38 women candidates in Bengal elections, this time this number has dropped to 33.

What is the situation in Tamil Nadu?

Elections are being contested for 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu. Both DMK and AIADMK have fielded 19 women candidates each. This ratio is about 11 percent. Both parties have slightly increased participation of women compared to 2021.

Number of women candidates decreased in Kerala

Both the BJP and the Congress have reduced the number of women candidates in Kerala. While CPI and CPI(M) have increased slightly. The percentage of the CPI(M) increased from 14.7 to 15.6, while the percentage of the Congress fell from 10.8 to 9.9. In Assam, the Congress fielded 9 women candidates in 2021, taking the number to 13 this time. BJP’s number has dropped from 7 to 6.

Even after the passage of the law, there is no increase in the number of women candidates

Since the law was passed in 2023, there have been few instances of parties fielding more than 20 percent women candidates. These include Congress in Sikkim, AJSU in Jharkhand, BJD in Odisha and some other smaller regional parties. Overall, women’s representation increased in 38 cases after the Act, while a decrease was recorded in 24 cases. However, this growth has been largely limited.

The ticket distribution performance of the BJP, which has been the most vocal about women’s reservation, has been mixed. Performance has improved in some states, but the number of women has declined in others. Meanwhile, the Congress has seen more than 20 percent women representation in some states, notably Sikkim and Jharkhand. Given all these statistics, although there is a political consensus on women’s reservation, its implementation, i.e. ticket allocation, remains markedly disparate.