Assam: Only 8 pc women candidates in first phase

Press Trust Of India  Posted on Mar 29, 2011 at 06:54pm IST 

Guwahati: Women contestants for the first phase of assembly elections in Assam on April 4 form only 7.84 per cent of the 485 candidates in the fray. While only 38 women, nominated by political parties and as Independent candidates, are contesting, the number of male candidates is 447.

The ruling Congress and opposition BJP have nominated 10 women contestants each, while Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has put up only two women candidates. Among the other parties, NCP has given tickets to four women, Trinamool Congress and SUCI(Communist) two each and CPM one. Four women are trying their electoral luck as 

Independents in the first phase.

The current assembly has 10 women legislators in a house of 126. Among the 62 of the 126 assembly constituencies going to the polls in the first phase, Karimganj (South) has the highest number of contestants at 25 and well as having the highest number of Independents at 20. The least number of contestants are in Bokajan (ST) seat with one candidate from the Congress and the BJP and one Independent.

 Courtesy:IBNLIVE