Women Candidates’ Performance in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in India

India’s 18th General Elections, conducted from April 19 to June 1, 2024, elected all 543 members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. The Members of Parliament (MPs) hold significant responsibility in crafting legislation and monitoring the government, vital for upholding India’s democracy.

Out of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, only 75 women were leading, down from 78 elected in 2019. Despite 797 women candidates contesting this year, the number of female MPs is unlikely to see a notable rise.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) have the most leading women candidates, comprising about 13.8% of the total. However, the number of women winners in major states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra has decreased compared to 2019, while states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh have seen a slight increase.

Among the leading women candidates, 32 are from BJP, followed by 12 from INC and 11 from AITC. Notable leaders include Kriti Devi Debbarman (BJP) from Tripura East and Dr. Lata Wankhede (BJP) from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, both with significant vote shares.

Globally, India’s ranking for women’s representation in the lower house has dropped to 148 out of 185 countries. As of April 2024, there were 77 women lawmakers in India, constituting 14.7% of the total seats.

Overall, while the participation of women candidates in Indian elections has increased over the years, their corresponding success rate in winning seats remains modest. This highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving gender parity in India’s political landscape, despite efforts to promote women’s representation.

Re-reported from the article originally published in LIVEMINT.