AIADMK's arch rival, the DMK has fielded around 11 per cent women candidates.
The J Jayalalithaa-led ruling AIADMK has given 31 (14 per cent) seats to women of the 227 seats that the party is contesting in the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections. And, women candidates in the state are largely restricted to seats reserved for them.
AIADMK spokesperson Saraswathi got lucky only after her party's initial nominee for the Pallavaram constituency was dropped. "Amma has already promised 50 per cent seats for women in the next local bodies election," she said.
AIADMK's arch rival, the DMK has fielded even fewer women. Around 11 per cent. The party's Rajya Sabha lawmaker and daughter of party chief M Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi said, "Today the BJP is in a position to pass the women's reservation bill easily but they've not done anything to pass it. Unless this is passed in Parliament it's not going to be implemented."
Both national parties contesting in the state too fall short of the 33 per cent mark they have been pitching for. The Congress has fielded just two women among its 33 candidates. The BJP, which is trying to gain a foothold in the state, has introduced 14 women candidates in the fray, though it is contesting 224 seats.
BJP state President Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, who's also contesting from the Virugambakkam constituency, claimed, "We did try to give 33 per cent. But, this should be looked into according to the position and political scenario of any particular constituency."