CHENNAI, February 6: Despite 1997 witnessing heated debates on the issue of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, major political parties have fielded just four women candidates for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu.The AIADMK led by a woman -- J Jayalalitha and her front constituents consisting of the BJP, MDMK, PMK, Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress and Janata Party, takes the cake. They have between themselves found just one woman, V Saroja of the AIADMK, who is being fielded from the Rasipuram reserve constituency.
The AIADMK in its manifesto states: "The AIADMK has increasingly raised its voice for providing equal opportunities to women who form 50 per cent of the population." Jayalalitha during her tenure as chief minister enabled women to have 30 per cent reservation and privileges in all the departments within the jurisdiction of the State government, the manifesto claims. She brought 30 women members into the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, it says adding that the manifesto supportsthe Reservation Bill.
The DMK-led front has fared no better. It has fielded R Gandhimathi from the Periyakulam constituency. Also its manifesto is completely silent on the Reservation Bill. The Congress-led front, which has pinned all its hopes on Sonia Gandhi, has fielded two women candidates -- K Thenmozhi of the Congress from the Rasipuram reserved constituency and erstwhile film actress Latha, who acted alongside MGR, is being fielded by the AIADMK (T) from the Dindigul constituency.
The Congress manifesto has promised to set up a Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to provide financial support to working women and women entrepreneurs and launch a Mahila Samrita Yojana to make women the backbone of Indian society.
As for its commitment to giving greater political power to women, the Congress introduced reservation for women in local bodies so that one-third of all representatives in panchayats and Nagarpalikas are women. "It is trying to extend this further. The Congress will initiate moves to amend theConstitution so that one-third of all legislative seats are reserved for women."
The TMC, which has Jayanthi Natarajan as a Rajya Sabha MP, has not fielded any woman candidate for the elections.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
