To woo women voters, Mizoram sets up pink polling booths in each constituency

In this state, women electors outnumber men. The state saw a spike in the number of female electors in 2013 and 2014. This year too, women electors outnumber males. The ratio is 1,051 female per 1,000 male voters in 2018. In 2013 and 2014, the ratio was 1,029 and 1,036, respectively, per 1,000 males. Hence, women play a crucial role in this election.

However, their representation in state politics remain low. The number of women candidates in this election is mere 15 among 209 overall candidates in the fray.

The BJP, which has never won a seat in the state, has fielded the highest number of six women candidates.

Its state president JV Hluna said Mizo women were not traditionally interested in politics, but now they were participating in social activities and it has submitted a memoranda to all political parties to field women candidates.

BJP is followed by the Zoram Thar, an Evangelist political party, which has fielded five women aspirants.

MNF president Zoramthanga told PTI, “We fielded women candidates in 1987 and we had even a woman minister. But later in our women wing, we don’t have suitable candidate.”

According to the final roll published on September 27 this year for the Assembly polls, Mizoram has a total voter of 7,68,181 persons, of which 3,74,496 are males and 3,93,685 females.

During the Karnataka elections which took place earlier this year, pink polling booths were a hit among the women. Will these booths draw women voters for elections in Mizoram as well? Only time will tell.