Journal of Global Resources
Biannual International Peer-Reviewed Journal
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print)/2455-2445 (Online)

January 2021
Volume 07 (01)
Crossref DOI 10.46587

DOI: 10.46587/JGR.2021.v07i01.009

09
STUDY ON PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
ELECTIONS IN RAJASTHAN (1952-2018)
Purnima Singh
Assistant Professor in Geography
Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur (Rajasthan) India
Email: purnimasinghbunkar@gmail.com.
Abstract: In ancient and medieval periods, females were considered as second-classcitizens. Females had limited rights in family, society and politics. The level of politicalparticipation is a good indicator to measure empowerment of women. The Constitution inIndia has granted universal adult franchise to all citizens. The participation of women inassembly (Vidhan Sabha) elections in Rajasthan was very poor at the time ofIndependence. The female participation has slowly increased since then. Participation in
voting is almost at par with male voters. Female participation as contesting candidates isnot very encouraging. The paper analyses the participation of women in voting and as
candidates since first assembly elections to latest assembly elections in 2018. Women still
have to cover a long way before they get equal political participation with males.
Key words: Women Empowerment, Political Participation, Voting, Assembly Constituency
Introduction
India is the largest democracy in world according to population and Rajasthan is largest
state in India according to area. It is enshrined in the Preamble to the constitution of India“to secure to all its citizens Justice, social, economic, political”. Article 15 of Indian
constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
After independence, the Indian Constitution in 1950 officially granted universal suffrage toall adult Indian citizens. Universal adult franchise has been provided by Indian constitution
to all citizens of India but the term 'political participation' has a very wide meaning. It is not
only related to 'Right to Vote', but simultaneously relates to participation in: decision-making
process, political activism, political consciousness, etc. Political activism and voting are thestrongest areas of women's political participation. Participation of women in elections is keyindicator of women empowerment.
Location of Study Area
Rajasthan is largest state of India. There are 33 districts in state. Rajasthan is located in
the north-western part of the country. It is bounded on the west and northwest by Pakistan,on the north and northeast by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, on theeast and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and on thesouthwest by the state of Gujarat. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in
the Banswara district. The state has an area of 132,140 square miles (342,239 squarekilometres). The capital city is Jaipur. Initially there were 176 seats in legislative assemblyfrom 1952 to 1962 and then 184 seats from 1967 to 1972. At present there are 200 seatssince 1977.

83

Figure 01: Assembly Constituencies in Rajasthan

Objectives
The main objectives of the study are:
• To study participation of women in Vidhan Sabha elections of Rajasthan from 1952to 2018.
• To assess participation through female voting percentage and female contesting
candidates.
•To find out causes for their poor participation.
Research Methodology
Entire research is based on Secondary data obtained from the office the Election
Commission of India (ECI), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Rajasthan and data obtained
from their websites. Compilation, tabulations, and analysis of data has been done using
statistical methods and techniques. Data has been depicted through suitable maps anddiagrams. Standard census and ECI definitions have been followed.
Participation of women in election as candidates
The participation of women has continuously increased from 1952. With the passage oftime the mind set of people is changing and women have started to come out of purdah
system in Rajasthan to contest the elections.

84

Table 01: Total Contestants, Women and Elected Women in Vidhan Sabha
Elections in Rajasthan 1952-2018
YearTotal Contestants
Women
Elected
1952
757
40
1957
653
21
9
1962
890
158
1967
892
19
6
1972
875
17
13
1977
1146
318
1980
1406
31
10
1985
1485
45
17
1990
3088
93
11
1993
2438
97
10
1998
1439
69
14
2003
1541
118
12
2008
2194
154
28
2013
2096
166
28
2018
2294
189
24
The table shows that the total number of women candidates out of total contestants
is steadily increasing but it is still below 9 percent (8.24 percent). The number of winning
female candidates are fluctuating. But since last three assemblies 14 percent, 14 percent
and 12 percent. The party wise bifurcation of elected female members of legislative
assembly in Rajasthan are shown in Table 2.0
Table 02: Party wise Bifurcation of Winning Female Candidates in Rajasthan
Vidhan Sabha
#Year
INC
BJP
OthersTotal Women MLAs
1.
1952
0000
2.
1957
0900
01
09 (+1)
3.
1962
08
00
00
08
4.
1967
06
00
00
06
5.
1972
1300
00
13
6.
1977
02
00
06
08
7.
1980
070300
108.
1985
1005
02
179.
1990
02
05
04
1110.
1993
0305
02
1011.
1998
1300
01
1412.
2003
01
1002
12 (+1)13.
2008131302
2814.
2013
02
2205
2815.
2018
13100224 (+1)
The table shows that the majority of females winning candidates belong to party getting
majority in assembly.
Turn Out of Women Voters
The ECI has sought to increase voter turnout by cleaning up electoral rolls and removing
missing or deceased members. The Election Commission of India has worked on theprinciple that no eligible voter should be left out and no ineligible voter should be includedin voter list (electoral roll).

85

Table 03: Women Voters Per 1000 Male Voters, Sex Ratio and Female Literacy InRajasthan
Year
Women Voters Per
Gender Ratio inSex Ratio
Female Literacy
Thousand Men Voters
Electoral Rolls
Rate ( percent)
1972
1977
1980
1985
1990
1993
1998
2003
2008
2013
2018

723
763
744
728
736
755
786
841
874
892
914

899
919

911

8.5

919

11.4

910

20.4

922

43.85

928

52.1

The gender ratio is number of female voters per thousand male voters registeredas voter on electoral rolls. The gender ratio has increased from 899 to 919. The voting
percentage has also increased significantly for women. The percentage increase for female
voters is more than that of male voters. Women voters per thousand male voters in Vidhan
sabha elections have increased from 723 in 1972 to 914 in 2018. Female literacy andfemale sex ratio have also increased over the years. The following figure shows thepercentage of male and female voters in various Vidhan Sabha elections from 19772 to2018. It is clear that the gap has continuously reduced.
Figure 02: Gender wise Poll Percentage, 1972-2018
807060504030
2010Males

0Females19721977

1980

1985

1990

1993

1998

2003

2008

2013 2018

Participation in Conduct of Polls
Historically, there is almost no participation. Generally, females are not employed for
conduct of election duties except for identification of purdah clad women and as booth level
officers. First time in 2018 elections 259 out of 51965 polling stations were all womenmanaged polling stations where all polling personnel deployed at that particular booth werefemales.

86Results
Women voter turn up per 1000 men voter increased from 723 in 1977 to 914 in 2018. It haswitnessed sharp increase over the years. Contesting candidates increased from 0.53
percent in 1952 to 8.24 percent in 2018, which is much below the 50 percent mark. Electedwomen candidates have increased from zero in 1952 and 5.11 percent in 1957 to 14
percent in 2013 and 12 percent in 2018 elections. This is a good indicator of womenempowerment. Overall participation of women has increased but the winning percentageof elected candidate to contestants was 42.86 percent in 1957 has come down to 12.7
percent largely due to increase in number of female contesting candidates. It is still better
than winning percent of male candidates which is only 8.36 percent in 2018. Voter
participation of female voters has reached at par with male voters. Although women haveheld the posts of Governor, as well as chief minister of state of Rajasthan but low
percentage of females in total elected and contesting candidates show the true picture ofwomen participation.
Reasons for Low Representation
Patriarchal family system and male dominance history of Rajasthan, sense of gender
subordination, low levels of literacy and low political awareness among women are main
reasons for historical low representation and low position of women in Rajasthan. Gender
based violence, sex selection, child marriage, preferential treatment to male child,discrimination against girls, dowry, marriage laws, family and agricultural responsibilities
are various reasons which have kept women on margins and have deliberately alienatedfrom key power positions and decision making. Political parties also do not prefer females
to males in distributing party tickets. Females with political background only get tickets.
ConclusionFemales continue to be under represented in Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha. Low representationof female points out to systematic exclusion of females on a gender basis from key positionsof decision making. Female participation as voters in assembly election over the year has
increased and has reached almost at par with the sex ratio and gender ratio of electoral
roll. Political parties do not promote female candidates. Reservation of seats for females inVidhan Sabha can help bridge the gap of poor representation of females.
References
1. Arora (2012). "Gender inequality, economic development, and globalization: A state levelanalysis of India". The Journal of Developing Areas. 46 (1): 147–164.
2. Political Reservations and Women's Entrepreneurship in India Ghani et al. (2014), WorldBank and Harvard University/NBER, pages 6, 29
3. Sen, Amartya (2001). "Many Faces of Gender Inequality". Frontline, India's National
Magazine. 18 (22): 1–17.
4. Praveen, Rai (14 January 2011). "Electoral Participation of Women in India: Key
Determinants and Barriers". Economic and Political Weekly. XVLI (3): 47–55.
5. Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan, India. "15th Vidhan Sabha General Elections".
6. Rukmini, S. "Who is behind the rise in voter turnouts?". The Hindu.
7. Rukmini, S. "Rising female voter turnout, the big story of 50 years". The Hindu.
Retrieved 22 December 2019.
8. Rout, Akshay. "Women's Participation in the Electoral Process". Election Commission ofIndia.
9. Raman, Vasanthi. "The Implementation of Quotas for Women: The IndianExperience". Centre for Women's Development Studies. International Institute for
Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
10. Basu, Amrita. "Women, Political Parties and Social Movements in South Asia". UnitedNations Research Institute for Social Development. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
11. Raman, Nachammai. "In India, a party for women only". The Christian Science Monitor.
12. Spary, Carole (2014). "Women candidates and party nomination trends in India - evidence
from the 2009 general election" (PDF). Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. 52 (1):
109–138.
87