In Punjab’s political theater, where the electorate boasts a near-equal gender split, the stage is set for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to unfold amidst a glaring absence of female contenders. Despite women making up a formidable force at the ballot box, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has curiously opted not to field a single woman among its 13 parliamentary hopefuls for the 2024 elections.

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has bucked the trend by nominating three women candidates out of nine declared thus far; while the Congress, too, has embraced gender diversity with two women candidates, albeit both on reserved seats. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has doubled down on its trust in three-time MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, once again.

The glaring lack of female representation in the state’s political discourse presents a striking paradox amid the demographic landscape, where women wield significant influence over electoral dynamics. This incongruity becomes all the more pronounced in light of the concerted efforts by all the political parties to court female voters, as they roll out a plethora of promises and initiatives aimed at capturing their support.

Despite constituting nearly half of the voting populace, the dwindling presence of women candidates underscored a concerning trend veering away from gender parity in the political sphere.

The historical context of female representation in Punjab’s political landscape traced back to the 1967 elections, where Mohinder Kaur — Rajmata of Patiala Royal Family; and Nirlep Kaur made their indelible mark by entering the Parliament. SAD’s Nirlep Kaur, notably, secured a parliamentary seat from Sangrur, becoming the first female parliamentarian from the State.

Over the past three elections, only a scant 56 women have been afforded the opportunity to vie for political office — a figure that pales in comparison to their male counterparts. Even more sobering is the fact that a mere seven women emerged victorious, clinching seats in the hallowed halls of the Parliament, reflecting a disheartening departure from the principle of equitable representation.

In stark contrast to the reticence exhibited by AAP and SAD, the Congress and BJP have emerged as torchbearers of female empowerment in Punjab’s political landscape, showcasing confidence in formidable female candidates.

BJP’s decision to field former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s wife and former Union Minister Parneet Kaur from Patiala, besides nominating the ‘greenhorn’ bureaucrat Parampal Kaur from Bathinda served as a testament to the party's commitment to gender inclusivity. Additionally, the candidature of Anita Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur, replacing her husband and the Union Minister Som Parkash, further underscored BJP's proactive approach towards fostering female leadership. As of now, BJP has announced candidates for nine out of total 13 seats in Punjab.

Similarly, the Congress has risen to the occasion by fielding Amarjit Kaur Sahoke from Faridkot and Yamini Gomar from Hoshiarpur — both reserved seats. Sahoke, who will be contesting the elections for the first time, replaced the sitting Congress MP Mohd Sadique.

On the other hand, Gomar had unsuccessfully contested from Hoshiarpur in 2014 under the AAP banner, followed by her subsequent affiliation with the Congress in 2016.

Reflecting on the electoral triumphs of women in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, wherein SAD’s Harsimrat secured victory from Bathinda, and Congress’ Preneet Kaur emerged triumphant from Patiala, one cannot ignore the indelible mark left by these trailblazing leaders on Punjab’s political canvas. Interestingly, both Harsimrat and Preneet hail from Punjab’s two top political families — the Badals and Patiala Royals.

While Harsimrat secured victory garnering 4,92,824 votes and defeating Congress candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring; Parneet emerged victorious by securing a total of 5,32,027 votes and defeating SAD’s Surjit Singh Rakhra. Looking back at the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 25 women candidates were given tickets to contest in Punjab.

Delving into the major political parties' strategies, SAD had fielded two women candidates, while Congress nominated one woman candidate for the electoral battlefield in 2019. Similarly, during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, nearly 20 women candidates contested across various constituencies in the State, with only Harsimrat emerging victorious defeating Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal, garnering 5,14,727 votes.

Reflecting on the records over the past three elections, the 2009 Lok Sabha elections saw the highest number of women candidates winning and entering the Parliament, with four women securing victory in Punjab, including SAD’s Paramjit Kaur Gulshan from Faridkot, SAD’s Harsimrat from Bathinda, Congress’ Preneet Kaur from Patiala, and Congress’ Santosh Chowdhary from Hoshiarpur.

However, the number of women candidates winning decreased in the subsequent 2014 and 2019 elections. The numerical decline in the representation of women in subsequent elections underscored a pressing need for concerted efforts aimed at nurturing and fostering female leadership in the state’s political arena.

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Women Candidates in Fray for Jun 1 Elections