By Varsha Singh
Haryana contributed the most number of women to India’s 2024 Paris Olympics contingent – of the 117 athletes who represented the country in the Olympics this year, 24 were from Haryana, and 14 of them were women. However, when it comes to politics, the number of women in the arena is pitifully low in the state. In the Assembly elections held on Saturday, October 5, there were only 51 women contesting from the 90 seats in the state legislature, out of a total 1031 candidates – that’s less than 5% representation.
Most of the women who’ve got tickets from major political parties belong to political families or are well-known figures. Congress has given tickets to the most number of women this time – 12. The Indian National Lok Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party alliance has given tickets to 11 women. The ruling BJP has 10 women in the running, as does the Aam Aadmi Party. The alliance of the Jananayak Janata Party and the Azad Samaj Party have given tickets to eight women.
In the history of Haryana, only 87 women have ever been elected to the Assembly. In fact, the highest number of women the state has had in the Assembly at any time is 13 – this was in the 12th Assembly which was formed in 2014; that’s also the year the state saw the highest number of women contestants at 116. The state – which has consistently had the worst sex ratio in India – has never had a woman Chief Minister.
But observers say that this might change when the results are announced on October 8. In fact, the tide may turn for women in the political arena in future, analysts say, with the entry of a popular candidate this time around: wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
What Vinesh’s political plunge could mean
Vinesh Phogat is a popular figure in Haryana – not only for her wrestling prowess, but also for taking on a powerful politician, former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over sexual violence allegations. Vinesh had a great run at the Paris Olympics this year – she triumphed over three major champions in a single day – until the finals, where she was disqualified for being over the weight limit for her category by just 100 g. The disqualification raised several questions about the Indian sports establishment – why was Vinesh made to contest in the 50 kg category, when her natural weight is around 52 kg? And why didn’t India fight hard enough to fight her disqualification?
But despite her disqualification, Vinesh was welcomed back to Haryana with the same honour and celebration as a gold medallist – a sign of the love that the people of Haryana have for her, say political observers. Following her Olympics run, Vinesh joined the Congress party in September, and contested from the Julana seat in Jind on October 5. This admiration will likely take her past the finishing line in the Assembly elections as well, says social activist and professor of physical education at Kurukshetra University, Dr Santosh Dahiya.
Dr Santosh Dahiya is the first female president of the Sarv Jaatiya Sarv Khap Panchayat, and has been honoured by the President of India for her social service. She says that in Haryana, people like to stand with those who are strong. “People support Vinesh not only because she performed exceptionally well in the Olympics – even in a weight category lighter than her own – but also because she fought against a man in Delhi who had the open backing of the government,” she says, referring to Brij Bhushan Singh.
Vinesh, who is from the Jat community, has the support of young people from all castes because she stood up against a powerful figure, Dr Dahiya says. “By raising her voice against the exploitation of female wrestlers, she has also given courage to women who have so far silently endured mistreatment. This is why, beyond caste and class, Vinesh has the support of women as well. She has become a symbol of women’s strength and empowerment,” Dr Dahiya says.
A woman Chief Minister, finally?
This year’s Haryana Assembly elections also stand out because for the first time, there is a real possibility that Haryana could have a female Chief Minister.
Veteran journalist Surendra Yadav observes that, given the current political climate, it appears that the Congress could form the government after the elections. Senior party leader Kumari Selja, who had remained largely absent from the campaign due to the ticket distribution process, became active in the last phase of campaigning alongside Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Yadav says, “Given Rahul Gandhi’s recent vocal stance on caste-based census, and his advocacy for Dalit rights, it cannot be ruled out that Kumari Selja could lead the government if the Congress wins the elections.”
Another possible candidate for Chief Minister if the Congress wins is Vinesh Phogat, Yadav says. “The influential Jat community in the state may also vote in favour of the Congress because of Vinesh Phogat. Vinesh enjoys significant emotional support at present, which could position her as a contender for Chief Ministership, even without prior political experience,” he says.
Varsha Singh is an independent journalist who covers the environment, climate, and social issues.
Edited by Ragamalika Karthikeyan
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