Political representation of women in legislative assembly elections of Assam

Abstract

The representation of women in legislative assembly elections of Assam have not improved since independence. Although Assam has a dignified history of women but they are not included in decision making and party politics of the state. Assam had witnessed a decline of percentage of women elected members of legislative assembly (MLA). In 2021 lowest number of women MLA’s are elected in comparison to other consecutive years. Here in this study, an attempt is made to observe political party-wise change in percentage of elected women MLA’s of Assam from 2001 to 2021. Moreover, the study had tried to bring percentage comparison between elected male and female MLA’s of Assam. Further, the study had also observed difference between contested and won women candidates in Assam legislative assembly elections. The result of the study shows that there is need of further improvement in representation of women in Assam politics. The study also shows huge difference between male and female elected MLA’s in legislative assembly elections of Assam. Regional political parties of Assam should give more candidature to women candidates in legislative elections in comparison to national political parties of the country.