Only four women in fray across Bongaigaon, Chirang as gender gap persists
Despite rising voter participation among women, their presence as candidates remains limited in key Assam constituencies, reflecting a continued imbalance
Data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) indicates that women’s representation in the Assam Assembly has remained limited despite their growing participation as voters. (Photo - @himantabiswa / X)
Bongaigaon, April 2: Only two women contenders each in Bongaigaon and Chirang districts are in fray for ensuing Assembly polls.
In Bongaigaon only two women contenders - Diptimayee Choudhury (AGP) and Pranita Barman (SUCI) are in the poll race. Diptimayee Choudhury is spouse of Barpeta Lok Sabha MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury, while SUCI nominee Pranita Barman is a resident of Udalguri district.
Choudhury won the Bongaigaon seat in 2024 bypolls after her husband was elected as MP from Barpeta Lok Sabha seat.
In Chirang district a total of 17 candidates are ready to fight the polls. One woman candidate among them is Banima Brahma from the Voters International Party in the Sidli-Chirang Assembly seat.
The other woman is in the Bijni Assembly seat Nilanjana Chakraborty from Bharatiya Gana Parishad (BGP).
Data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) indicates that women’s representation in the Assam Assembly has remained limited despite their growing participation as voters.
In 2016, only eight of the 91 women candidates across parties were elected. The number dropped further in 2021, with just six of 76 women candidates winning seats in the 126-member House.
The figures highlight a persistent gap between women’s electoral participation and their representation in legislative bodies, even as political parties continue to promise greater inclusion.