Mumbai:
For the first time, all the six civic wards in Mumbai's Vile Parle area have been reserved for women. This is the result of 50 per cent seats of the Mumbai Municipality being reserved for women candidates only. However, a closer look at the candidates and a trend can be spotted. Three of the largest four parties have mainly fielded wives and daughters.
Professor Shubda Patkar is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket this year. Her husband, a sitting corporator of the area, who has won the seat three times in a row, was aiming for a fourth term in the stronghold till the Election Commission upset his plans. The Opposition has alleged that Mrs Patkar have been given a ticket only because of her husband.
"My husband has done good work for the area. I will do so too," she says.
Shyama Kulkarni, President, Action for Good Governance & Networking in India and a famous women's rights activist, says, "This whole reservation policy actually needs to be enforced at the party level. If every individual political party decided that they would field 50% of their candidates as women then it becomes much easier."
"I have actually written an exam to be selected as a candidate. Most other women candidates are like the Rabri Devis of Mumbai," says Veena Bhagat, MNS candidate for the civic polls.
Binita Vora is another of the few examples of a strong woman politician in the civic polls. Her father-in-law, a banker, is a big presence in Mumbai Congress and her close relative is Congress MLA, Priya Dutt.
Professor Shubda Patkar is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket this year. Her husband, a sitting corporator of the area, who has won the seat three times in a row, was aiming for a fourth term in the stronghold till the Election Commission upset his plans. The Opposition has alleged that Mrs Patkar have been given a ticket only because of her husband.
"My husband has done good work for the area. I will do so too," she says.
Shyama Kulkarni, President, Action for Good Governance & Networking in India and a famous women's rights activist, says, "This whole reservation policy actually needs to be enforced at the party level. If every individual political party decided that they would field 50% of their candidates as women then it becomes much easier."
"I have actually written an exam to be selected as a candidate. Most other women candidates are like the Rabri Devis of Mumbai," says Veena Bhagat, MNS candidate for the civic polls.
Binita Vora is another of the few examples of a strong woman politician in the civic polls. Her father-in-law, a banker, is a big presence in Mumbai Congress and her close relative is Congress MLA, Priya Dutt.
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