Women’s representation in Telangana Assembly dips further

The representation of women in the 119-member Telangana Assembly has dropped to 5% against the 7.5% in the dissolved House.

Only six women have made it to the Assembly in the elections held on December 7. There were nine members in the previous Assembly.

Three women candidates each of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Congress were elected this time. Three of them come from tribal communities.

Padma Devender Reddy, who was Deputy Speaker in the dissolved House, has been re-elected. Rekha Naik, a tribal and G Sunitha Reddy also retained their seats.

The Congress party's D Anasuya defeated Minister Azmeera Chandulal from Mulugu constituency (reserved for Scheduled Tribe). B Haripriya was elected from Yellandu. Former Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh Sabitha Indra Reddy was also elected.

Congress had fielded 11 women candidates and eight of them including former Ministers J Geetha Reddy, DK Aruna, Sunitha Laxma Reddy and Konda Surekha were defeated.

The TRS, which came under criticism for not giving representation to women in the previous cabinet, had fielded only four women candidates.

Telugu Desam Party founder NT Rama Rao's granddaughter N Suhasini was also defeated.