Historic Gains for Women Contestants in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections; Awareness and Empowerment

VIPUL SHARMA & TEHRAZ AHMED

Despite the Women’s Reservation Bill yet to see the light of the day. The Lok Sabha elections marked a significant milestone for women in Indian politics, showcasing a notable rise in their participation and representation. The results declared on June 4 highlighted substantial progress.
25-year-olds Sanjana Jatav, Shambhavi Choudhary, and Priya Saroj mark historic wins in the 2024 elections.
West Bengal emerged as the leading state with the highest number of female MPs, totaling 11. Among the notable victories were the youngest newcomers All aged 25 ! Sanjana Jatav won from the Bharatpur constituency in Rajasthan, defeating BJP’s Ramswaroop Koli by a margin of 51,983 votes. Shambhavi Choudhary won Bihar’s Samastipur Lok Sabha seat, beating Sunny Hazari of the Congress by a margin of 187,251 votes. Priya Saroj won from the Machhlishahr seat by a margin of 35,850 votes.
Out of 8,360 candidates, 797 were women, representing 10% of the total-a first in India’s electoral history. This election saw 74 women elected to the Lok Sabha, slightly down from the 78 women elected in 2019, but still a strong showing. Women MPs came from 14 different parties, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading with 31 female MPs, followed by the Congress with 13, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with 11.
In a historic first, three transgender candidates participated in this election, contesting as independents. However, none managed to win a seat or retain their security deposits.
The 2024 elections highlighted a positive trend towards greater gender inclusivity in Indian politics, with 43 of the elected women being first-time MPs. This percentage of newcomers is higher than the overall rate of new faces in the Lok Sabha, underscoring a growing acceptance and support for female leaders.
While the fight for equal representation in the Legislative Assembly continues, the increased participation and success of women candidates in this election reflect a significant step forward in India’s democratic process.
(The writers are interns at PIB Jammu).