Winds of change in Uttar Pradesh: 44% pradhan seats in panchayat polls go to women

LUCKNOW: In a big surprise, women have won nearly 44% of the pradhan seats in panchayat polls across UP, challenging the myth that elections at the rural level in this state are essentially a male-dominated affair. This means that 11% of total winners are women who won the seats in the general category, over and above the 33% seats reserved for them.

"The results are proof of women empowerment in the state and women leaders are sure to play a major role in the future," said state election commissioner Satish Kumar Agarwal. The results for the polls were announced late Saturday and Sunday.

"Women comprised 44.79% of the candidates and women winners were 43.86% of the total winners as far as village pradhans are concerned," Agarwal said. The victorious women included four PhD holders.

In a marked departure from previous panchayat elections, four Muslim-dominated districts of western UP saw women outnumbering men. These are - Sambhal (54.5%), Rampur (54.4%), Moradabad (51%) and Badaun (50.5%). In Bareilly, 50% of all gram pradhans are women, majority of them in the 25-35 age group. The fight was close in Bahraich, where women won 49.6% of seats.

Districts where percentage of women winners was among the lowest are - Mathura (36.7%), Agra (37%) and Hathras (38%). Agarwal pointed out that even in such districts, women had not fared poorly. "Despite 33% reservation, women candidates have registered their presence throughout the state, as even the lowest percentage exceed the 33% mark," the SEC said.

Additional district magistrate (administration) and deputy election officer, Bareilly, Arun Kumar, told TOI that more women and youngsters who had no family background in politics had won this time. "I am baffled at the reversal of existing trends in gram pradhan elections this time. There is more vibrancy this time and voters have rejected candidates with criminal backgrounds and have shed caste and other biases which ordinarily are the cornerstone of such elections," he added.

Meanwhile, on the fate of Noida, where elections were not held, Agarwal said the process will take some time as this would require delimitation by separating industrial area of the district.