Female voters in Manipur poll
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 18, 2012: Even though the women voters outnumbered the men since 1990 polls, Manipur appears still not ready to elect women as their representative.

"This is because of lack of financial support and social responsibilities.

Women cannot fend off money and muscle power", reasons L Mema, President of Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup, a women vendor body in the busy Ima Keithel, one of South Asia's biggest women market, located in the heart of Imphal.

But women's role in Manipur's history is exemplary and the population here has shown great respect to the movement led by women particularly the women vigil group--Meira Paibi's movement against the anti-liquor drive and other anti-social elements.

Even Nupi Lan(women's war) against artificial scarcity of food grains during the British regime is being observed by the population on every December 12,besides giving respect to the famous Ima Keithel etc.

"There are also chances of women winning polls if there is an actual free and fair poll without money and muscle power," Mema also a popular Meira Paibi leader in Imphal claimed.

But then there are differences when participation of women in polls or decision making bodies comes into force.

As a result representation of women in Manipur's assembly history is almost negligible.

Former Lok Sabha MP and President of state Trinamool Congress Kim Gangte sharing a similar sentiment while speaking to this reporter, said, "Women here are not so aggressive besides we've have a mentally that hardly counts on women when we talk about their participation or contesting in assembly elections.

I'm not only talking about this assembly polls." "In my case there were around 9 candidates and I was the lone woman candidate," the former MP added.

So far Manipur assembly has had just four women MLAs including the existing member O Landhoni who is wife of Chief Minister O Ibobi from Khangabok seat.

The other ex-MLAs are Keisham Apabi Devi (Oinam), Hamingla Shaiza (Ukhrul) and Wahengbam Leima Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa).

Except Karong, Tadubi, Kangpokpi, Tipaimukh and Thanlon, females outnumbered males in the state's 60 seats in ensuing polls.

Out of state's 17,40,820 electorates there are more than 38,174 female voters than males this time too.

If one goes by pure number, the fate of 60 seats in the January 28 ballot battle lies in the hands of female voters.

"Agreed, but we still need to build up the confidence among ourselves that women also can do the same in politics, besides money power," opines political worker T Nenie Haokip of Churachandpur district.

Ng Sundari another functionary of a political party also echoed a similar feeling.

This time 14 women candidates including 3 congress candidates, 2 from Manipur State Congress Party, one each from BJP, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress are in the fray for the assembly polls.

There were just 6 women candidates in 2007 polls.

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