Women in State Politics in India : Missing in the Corridors of Power

The dynamics of Indian politics is reflected in the flexible and fluctuating relations between the centre and the states as well as in the equations within the multiparty political system. This book is one of the first to explore the participation of women in state and local politics in India and how women navigate the dynamic spaces and hierarchies of the Indian political system. With the help of in-depth studies of seventeen states in India, it analyses the gender profile of political parties and legislative bodies in these states; the question of women’s representation which is miniscule in legislative assemblies and women voters and their voting choices. It also explores the lives and careers of women in local politics, the roadblocks and barriers they face, along with a study of women’s participation in informal politics. The essays in this volume underline the need for women’s active participation both inside and outside the party-system to make democracy more robust and meaningful. Topical, rich in empirical data, this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of Indian politics, gender studies, political science, sociology, public administration and South Asia studies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Foreword Preface List of Acronyms Introduction Chapter 1 Women and politics in Jammu and Kashmir Chapter 2 Women in Haryana’s politics: Myth of empowerment Chapter 3 Women in Punjab politics: Missing, voiceless, inactive Chapter 4 Political participation of women in politics of Uttar Pradesh Chapter 5 Women in politics in Himachal Pradesh Chapter 6 Women and state politics in Haryana Chapter 7 Kerala: Beyond the politicking of gender politics Chapter 8 Women in Telangana state politics and their struggles Chapter 9 Women in Goa’s politics: The need for fast tracking to achieve gender equality Chapter 10 Maharashtra: Engendering the dilemmas of democratic politics Chapter 11 Women and politics in Gujarat Chapter 12 Women and politics in Maharashtra Chapter 13 Women in Madhya Pradesh state politics: An analysis Chapter 14 Women legislators in Rajasthan: A paradoxical scenario Chapter 15 Women in state politics in West Bengal Chapter 16 Engendering Bihar politics: Myth or Reality? Chapter 17 Women’s representation in state politics in Sikkim Chapter 18 The landscape of inadequate assertion: Women in Bihar politics Chapter 19 Gender dynamics in electoral politics in Assam Epilogue: Glimpses of perspectives/experiences of four women active in politics and movements Index The dynamics of Indian politics is reflected in the flexible and fluctuating relations between the centre and the states as well as in the equations within the multiparty political system. This book is one of the first to explore the participation of women in state politics in India and how women navigate the dynamic spaces and hierarchies of the Indian political system.With the help of in-depth studies of 16 states in India, it analyses the gender profile of political parties and legislative bodies in these states; the question of women's representation which is miniscule in legislative assemblies and women voters and their voting choices. It also explores the roadblocks and barriers they face, along with a study of women's participation in informal politics. The chapters in this book underline the need for women's active participation both inside and outside the party system to make democracy more robust and meaningful.Topical, rich in empirical data, this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of Indian politics, gender studies, political science, sociology, public administration, and South Asia studies.