Why simultaneous polls will undermine women’s political participation at grassroots level
Source: The Indian Express
The recent momentum around the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, following the Union Cabinet’s approval of the report by the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has sparked a fresh debate on electoral reforms. Proponents argue that synchronising national and state elections could streamline governance, reduce election-related disruption, and even boost GDP. However, as with many grand reforms, the devil lies in the details. It is crucial to ask: What would this reform mean for women who rely on local elections — panchayats and municipalities — as critical entry points into politics?
Implications for local democracy
The Kovind Committee report proposes synchronising panchayat and municipal elections within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. This approach undermines the critical role that local elections play in fostering women’s political participation and leadership at the grassroots level. While national and state elections tend to focus on broader, macro-level issues, local elections are grounded in the everyday concerns of communities — domains where women’s leadership has been particularly vital.
Read here the full article published by The Indian Express on 24 September 2024.
Image credits: The Indian Express
The recent momentum around the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, following the Union Cabinet’s approval of the report by the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has sparked a fresh debate on electoral reforms. Proponents argue that synchronising national and state elections could streamline governance, reduce election-related disruption, and even boost GDP. However, as with many grand reforms, the devil lies in the details. It is crucial to ask: What would this reform mean for women who rely on local elections — panchayats and municipalities — as critical entry points into politics?
Implications for local democracy
The Kovind Committee report proposes synchronising panchayat and municipal elections within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. This approach undermines the critical role that local elections play in fostering women’s political participation and leadership at the grassroots level. While national and state elections tend to focus on broader, macro-level issues, local elections are grounded in the everyday concerns of communities — domains where women’s leadership has been particularly vital.
Read here the full article published by The Indian Express on 24 September 2024.
Image credits: The Indian Express