AIZAWL: In male-dominated Northeast, women have always been denied political space. Election-bound Mizoram is no exception. In Mizo society, which is largely dependent on the hard work of women, only a few of them have been given the opportunity to contest elections. So, despite their immense contribution to the social life and economy, they are refused entry into power politics.
Of the 209 candidates in the fray of November 28 polls, there are just 15 women. The ruling Congress has fielded just one woman; opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) none. With six candidates each, the BJP and the Zoram Thar have fielded the highest number of women candidates. Regional Zoram People’s Movement has fielded two.
The Congress said it did not come across women with leadership qualities.
“Unless they (women) are deeply involved (in politics) and they have a chance to win, it is very difficult for the political parties to give tickets to them. They should be strong contenders. We have given ticket to Lalawmpuii Chawngthu as she is a very strong candidate. We need women with leadership qualities. If there are such women, the Congress will be very happy to give tickets to them,” Congress spokesman Maliana told TNIE.
Last year, Chawngthu had become Mizoram’s second woman to be inducted into the ministry after a gap of 30 years. She is the lone woman MLA in Mizoram’s current Assembly.
Asked as to why the MNF did not field a single woman, the party chief and former Chief Minister Zoramthanga said, “We wanted to field some women but we did not get any suitable candidates. If we had got, we certainly would have fielded them. So, there is no question of discrimination against them”.
The People’s Represent for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) said it could not field any candidates as no woman had approached the party seeking ticket. “If they had come, we would have given tickets to them,” PRISM president Vanlalruata said. PRISM, an anti-corruption watchdog, is fighting the election for the first time.
The Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), which is a women’s organisation fighting for the rights of women, appealed to people to vote for the women candidates.
“Women in Mizoram are progressive and advanced, yet only a few of them have been fielded. This is because the men do not want them to contest elections. We have made an appeal to the voters to vote for women candidates, irrespective of their political affiliation and religion,” MHIP vice president, Dr. Thanpuii, told TNIE.
She added that earlier when there was no reservation, there were hardly around 100 women village council members but after the state government in 2014 passed a law that ensured 33 per cent quota, there were now around 700 women in the councils. They have proved they are on a par with men, Thanpuii said.