Political parties talk about women empowerment, but all political parties were skimpy in giving tickets to women in Punjab assembly elections. Congress, which gave 40% tickets to women in Uttar Pradesh, fielded 10% women candidates in Punjab. Whereas the Aam Aadmi Party also gave only 12 tickets to women. The Akali Dal had allied with the BSP and made many lucrative promises for women. But when it came to giving tickets, the Akali Dal fielded only 4 per cent women.
A total of 93 women candidates were in the fray in the Punjab Assembly elections out of which only 13 candidates won. Out of 13, 11 women candidates of Aam Aadmi Party have won. Aam Aadmi Party’s Jeevan Jyot Kaur defeated Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bikram Majithia from Amritsar East. Let’s know about the women MLAs of Punjab-
27-year-old Narinder Kaur Bharaj, Sangrur, Aam Aadmi Party: 27-year-old Narinder Kaur defeated cabinet minister and Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla. Narinder Kaur had joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014 and after that she continued to work hard in Sangrur. In front of him were crorepati candidates of BJP and Congress. According to the election affidavit, Narinder Kaur’s assets are Rs 24,400.
50-year-old Jeevan Jyot Kaur, Amritsar East, Aam Aadmi Party: Jeevan Jyot Kaur defeated Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bikram Singh Majithia from Amritsar East. Jeevan Jyot Kaur is also known as Padman of Punjab. Jeevan Jyot Kaur distributes sanitary pads to women in the slums of Punjab.
46-year-old Ganiv Kaur Majithia, Shiromani Akali Dal: Ganeev Majithia is the wife of Bikram Singh Majithia and defeated Sukhjinder Singh Lalli of Aam Aadmi Party by more than 26,000 votes. Ganeev Majithia is a graduate in Economics.
Aruna Chaudhary, 64, Dina Nagar, Congress: Even in the wave of Aam Aadmi Party, Aruna Chaudhary was successful in winning the election for the third time in a row from Dina Nagar assembly on a Congress ticket. Aruna Chaudhary was also a minister in Channi government and from Dinanagar assembly seat of Gurdaspur district, Aruna Chaudhary defeated Shamsher Singh of Aam Aadmi Party by 1377 votes.
56-year-old Rajinder Kaur, Ludhiana South, AAP: Rajinder Kaur is a very old member of Aam Aadmi Party and has also led Mahila Morcha. Contesting for the first time, Kaur defeated Balwinder Singh Bains of Lok Insaaf Party.
37-year-old Professor Baljinder Kaur, Talwandi Sabo, AAP: Baljinder Kaur has been the president of Aam Aadmi Party’s Mahila Morcha and is also a member of the party’s national executive. Baljinder Kaur has reached the assembly for the second time. He defeated Akali Dal’s candidate Jitmohinder Singh by more than 15000 votes. Baljinder Kaur has done M-Phil.
39-year-old Dr. Amandeep Kaur Arora, Moga, AAP: Amandeep Kaur Arora defeated Sonu Sood’s sister and Congress leader Malvika Sood from Moga Assembly Constituency by more than 20,000 votes. Amandeep Kaur Arora has done MBBS from Ukraine.
49-year-old Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, Jagraon, AAP: Sarvjit Kaur won the Jagraon seat of Ludhiana for the second time in a row. Sarvjeet defeated former MLA of Shiromani Akali Dal SR Kler by more than 39 thousand votes. Prior to this, Sarvjit Kaur was the Deputy Leader of Opposition from the Aam Aadmi Party.
53-year-old Inderjit Kaur Mann, Nakodar, AAP: Inderjit Kaur Mann defeated two-time Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Gurpratap Singh Wadela by a margin of 2800 votes. Inderjit Kaur Mann was contesting from the Nakodar assembly seat of Jalandhar. Prior to this, Mann was also in the Congress party.
55-year-old Santosh Kumar Kataria, Balachaur, AAP: Santosh Kumar Kataria has won from Balachaur seat in Nawanshahr district. Congress MLA Darshan Lal has been defeated by Kataria. Kataria is the daughter of Ram Kishan Kataria, who has been elected MLA twice from this seat. Santosh Kumar Kataria had contested the elections on Congress ticket in 2007 as well but lost. Santosh Kumar Kataria teaches tuition to the children.