Rajni Sethi
The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a gradual transformation, with women increasingly asserting their presence in public life. Yet, despite their contributions to political campaigns, organisational activities and grassroots mobilisation, women remain significantly underrepresented in positions of political authority. The real challenge today is to transform women’s political participation into meaningful leadership, independent decision-making and greater representation in democratic institutions.
Jammu and Kashmir has a legacy of influential women in politics. Leaders such as Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have demonstrated that women can occupy prominent positions in the region’s political landscape. However, the rise of individual leaders has not automatically created equal opportunities for women from ordinary backgrounds. For many aspiring women politicians, established political networks, financial constraints and traditional social expectations continue to pose considerable barriers.
The 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections brought this issue into sharper focus. Initially, three women were elected to the 90-member Legislative Assembly: Sakeena Itoo and Shamima Firdous of the National Conference, and Shagun Parihar of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The subsequent election of Devyani Rana from Nagrota increased the number of women legislators to four, representing approximately 4.4 per cent of the elected Assembly. This figure highlights the considerable gap between women’s participation in political activities and their representation in legislative institutions.
The emergence of women such as Shagun Parihar and Devyani Rana also reflects the potential for younger women to enter electoral politics and develop their own public identities. Their political journeys, alongside those of other women representatives, demonstrate the importance of providing women with opportunities to assume responsibility, engage with constituents and contribute to public policy.
Political parties across Jammu and Kashmir have established women’s wings that play an important role in mobilisation, outreach and organisational development. However, women’s participation must not remain confined to these platforms. Women deserve opportunities in the principal decision-making bodies of political organisations, where electoral strategies, candidate selection, policy priorities and organisational leadership are determined.
Another important challenge is the traditional tendency to associate women politicians primarily with social welfare, education and family-related matters. While these issues remain essential, women are equally capable of contributing to economic development, infrastructure, constitutional affairs, national security, public administration and governance. Leadership should be determined by merit, competence, commitment and experience rather than gender-based assumptions.
Jammu and Kashmir has a substantial pool of educated and professionally accomplished women, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and social activists. Their knowledge and experience can enrich political discourse and strengthen democratic institutions. Political parties must create pathways for these women to enter public life without requiring established family connections or privileged backgrounds.
At the same time, the contributions of grassroots women workers deserve greater recognition. Many have dedicated years to organising meetings, campaigning during elections, addressing public grievances and maintaining contact with citizens. Their commitment, organisational experience and public credibility should translate into genuine opportunities for advancement.
The challenges are particularly complex for women in remote and mountainous districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Kupwara. Geographical isolation, limited professional networks, economic constraints and social expectations can restrict access to political opportunities. Meaningful empowerment therefore requires region-specific outreach, leadership training, mentorship and stronger organisational support.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, marks an important step towards improving women’s representation in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Its implementation is subject to the constitutional provisions relating to delimitation following the relevant census process. Its eventual application to Jammu and Kashmir’s legislative arrangements could significantly influence women’s political representation.
Nevertheless, reservation alone cannot guarantee empowerment. Women must have a meaningful role in legislative debates, policy formulation and political decision-making. Representation becomes effective when women possess the opportunity to exercise independent judgment, influence priorities and contribute directly to governance.
Financial limitations also affect women’s participation in electoral politics. Campaigns require resources, organisational backing and sustained public outreach. Transparent candidate-selection processes, fair access to organisational resources and institutional support can help talented women compete on more equitable terms.
Digital platforms have created new opportunities for women politicians to communicate directly with citizens, articulate their views and build independent public identities. However, online harassment, personal attacks and gender-based intimidation remain serious concerns. Political parties, institutions and society must work towards an environment in which women can participate confidently and without fear.
As Jammu and Kashmir continues to address employment, economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and public accountability, women politicians have an important role in shaping the region’s future. Their contribution should be recognised not merely because they are women, but because democratic institutions become stronger when leadership reflects a wider range of experiences, abilities and perspectives.
The future of women politicians in Jammu and Kashmir must therefore be measured not simply by their presence at public meetings or their participation in election campaigns, but by their representation in legislative institutions, their influence over political decisions and their ability to emerge as independent leaders.
The next chapter of women’s political empowerment must mark a decisive transition from participation to leadership, from symbolic representation to genuine authority, and from limited opportunities to equal access to political responsibility. Political parties have a crucial role in ensuring that capable women are not merely participants in the political process but active architects of its direction.
A stronger democracy requires women to have an equal opportunity to lead, decide and shape the future. Jammu and Kashmir must move towards a political culture in which a woman’s ambition is recognised as a strength, her contribution is valued on merit, and her leadership is determined by her capabilities rather than the barriers she faces.
(The author is Spokesperson, BJP Jammu & Kashmir and can be reached at [email protected])
