Berhampur: Odisha has witnessed as many as 16 Assembly elections from 1951-1952 to 2019. Ganjam district, one of the largest in the state, comprises 13 Assembly segments out of which five are yet to elect a woman as MLA so far.
These Assembly constituencies are Chhatrapur, Gopalpur, Hinjili, Bhanjanagar and Polsara. The issue assumes significance as a Bill seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies has been passed in both the houses of Parliament ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections.
Women leaders and workers of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have been insisting to try their luck as candidates in these five seats which have gone unrepresented by the fair sex so far. Some women leaders of the party requesting anonymity said BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has created a name for himself by attaching importance to women in various fields. They hope that they will be given a chance to contest in these Assembly seats in the upcoming elections.
Reports said that women leaders have been elected to the state Assembly from the rest eight Assembly segments at different points of time during the Congress’ stint as well as in non-Congress governments.
According to reports available from the State Election Commission, Sugyani Kumari Deo has been elected to the state Assembly for nine times at various points of time by contesting from Khallikote and Kabisuryanagar Assembly segments from non-Congress party. This alone is a feat achieved by Deo.
Similarly, Usha Devi has won from Chikiti Assembly seat for six times by contesting from the erstwhile Janata Dal and the ruling dispensation BJD. Shanti Devi has won earlier from Sorada Assembly segment while Usharani Panda won twice from Aska and Sorada by contesting from the Congress party.
Nandini Devi got elected from Sanakhemundi Assembly segment in 2014 elections. Ananga Manjari won from Badakhemundi, now Digapahandi Assembly segment, in 1957 elections. Suryamani Baidya was elected from Khallikote Assembly segment and Latika Pradhan from Kabisuryanagar Assembly segment in the 2019 elections.
Manjula Swain has won from Aska and Ratna Manjari Devi won from Berhampur Assembly segment in 1977 elections. Notably, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the first to raise the issue of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies. He also sought the support of chief ministers of other states for the realisation of the demand.
Although late, the NDA government at the Centre has turned the Bill into a law. Various women outfits demanded the ruling BJD to give more space to women and field them from these five Assembly constituencies which have gone unrepresented by women leaders till date.
PNN
