After Women’s Reservation Bill, Cong fielded only woman from Kerala: Shama Mohamed

All India Congress Committee spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Saturday expressed disappointment that the Congress, which first brought the Women’s Reservation Bill, fielded only one woman candidate from Kerala for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls even after passing of the legislation.

All India Congress Committee spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Saturday expressed disappointment that the Congress, which first brought the Women’s Reservation Bill, fielded only one woman candidate from Kerala for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls even after passing of the legislation.

Ms. Mohamed said Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi had been calling for more women representation in politics and, therefore, her “request” was that party leaders in Kerala should listen to him.

“You should give representation to women. Last time [in 2019], there were two women candidates (from Kerala). But after passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill, there is only one this time. That is my greatest disappointment,” she said.

Her statement comes a day after the Congress announced its 16 candidates from Kerala for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls with Ramya Haridas, for the Alathur constituency in Palakkad district, the only woman on the list.

Ms. Mohamed’s remarks also assume importance as Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, moved to the BJP alleging neglect from the grand old party.

The AICC national spokesperson said she was not making a complaint, but was only requesting the party to give women more representation.

She claimed that women votes were going to other parties and to get them back, the party needed to have more women candidates.