How women formed a vote bank parties can ignore at own risk
Lok Sabha polls in the coming months, 'Nari Shakti' has taken centrestage. When thin margins can become a deciding factor on a large number of seats, no party can ignore this demographic which has coalesced into a new vote bank as more women are getting educated and participating in the labour force, thus gaining independence in making political choices.
It has been seen in the recent past how welfare schemes or freebies targeted at women have influenced election results. BJP's Ladli Behna scheme is considered a big factor behind the party's victory in the Madhya Pradesh elections last year while cash handouts to female heads of families and free bus rides for women tipped the scales in favour of Congress in Karnataka elections.
Both BJP and Congress have focused their political campaigns on empowering women, with the BJP promoting schemes like the Ladli Behna, slashing LPG prices and highlighting its role in passing Women's Reservation Bill, while the Congress has promised monthly financial aid among other benefits. Additionally, regional parties are also making concerted efforts to appeal to women voters.
The Election Commission (EC) in its recent report said that nearly 96.88 crore are registered to vote for the forthcoming General Elections in India with female voters increasing from approximately 43 crore in 2019 to over 47 crore for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Why women have become so important for parties
Registration for scheme to provide Rs 1,000 monthly to non-tax paying women to
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