Concerns Raised Over Women's Representation in Kerala Assembly Elections

In a recent statement, Congress leader Shama Mohammed highlighted the concerning lack of female representation in the party's candidate list for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. With only nine out of 92 tickets allocated to women, she called on Rahul Gandhi to support female leaders in the state. Her comments follow the finalization of candidates, as the party prepares for the elections scheduled for April 9. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan confirmed the selection of all candidates, while BJP spokesperson C.R. Keshavan criticized Congress's historical approach to women's reservation. This situation raises important questions about gender representation in politics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 11:01 IST

Shama Mohammed Calls for Greater Female Representation

On Friday, Congress leader Shama Mohammed expressed her worries regarding the low representation of women in the party's candidate list for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. In a post on X, she highlighted that out of 92 tickets, only nine have been allocated to women. She also referenced the Lok Sabha elections, where only one woman was among the 16 candidates from Kerala. Despite the disappointing numbers, she remains hopeful and urged Rahul Gandhi to support female leaders within the state unit.

Comments Following Candidate Finalization

Her remarks came just a day after Congress finalized its candidates. In her post, she stated that while defeat is not an option, the situation remains grim. She respectfully requested Rahul Gandhi, whom she admires, to assist the women legislators of Congress in Kerala. With only nine out of 92 tickets going to women, and just one woman candidate in the Lok Sabha's 24-member body, she described the situation as extremely unfortunate.

Opposition Leader Responds

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan confirmed that the party has selected all 95 candidates, having previously announced 55 and now finalizing the remaining 40. The selection process is complete, and the party is gearing up for the campaign. Voting in Kerala is scheduled for April 9, with counting set for May 4. In response to Shama Mohammed's comments, BJP spokesperson C.R. Keshavan remarked that historically, the Congress party's approach to women's reservation has been limited to the Nehru-Gandhi family and their close associates, rather than extending to qualified individuals.

Historical Context of Women's Reservation

Keshavan further noted that during its 55 years in power at the center, Congress has never passed a women's reservation bill. He criticized the party's vote-bank politics, which he claims has unjustly treated women, citing the reversal of the Shah Bano decision through parliamentary legislation.