By Pratap Vardhan
The 16th Lok Sabha Election in 2014, saw the highest number of women MPs – 63 get elected from various Indian states. Which is 11.6% of the total 543 seats, way below the women's share (47.6%) of voters, of who voted in 2014.
Although the women's representation has improved marginally in last 2 decades. When you break these numbers by States, who'll start seeing the demographic divide. Some Indian States have not improved it's representation.
In 2014, West Bengal had the best representation (relatively), with 12 women MPs (28%) of the 40 seats. Of the crucial 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, only 13 were women (16%).
Here's how Indian States elected women MPs since 1962.
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland haven't elected a women MP since 1980.
And, the situation of Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) is no better. Chhattisgarh, Haryana and West Bengal are among the top States to elect ~15% MLAs who are women. Majority of Indian State Assemblies don't even have 1 women in 10 MLAs.
These numbers are way below the 33% reservation demand proposed in unimplemented Womens' Reservations Bill.
If the recent trends continue, it will take well over 10 decades to see adequate proportionate representation of women in Indian politics.
Credits: Interactive by Pratap Vardhan, Gramener. Data sourced from Election Commission of India.