Representation of Women in Politics and the Role of Political Parties

It is widely believed that gender equality in politics is a necessary condition for the effective functioning of democracy. Women’s equal involvement in the political process and their representation in decision-making institutions strengthen democracy. However, in many democratic countries, gender equality in politics is far from achieved. India’s case is no different, as the number of women in the current parliament stands at 14 percent. Several factors contribute to the gender disparity in politics and hinder women from entering politics in India. Political parties are one factor and play an important role as gatekeepers in politics. This study examines the factors affecting women’s political representation in India and the political parties’ role in women’s access to political office. The scope of the study is from the general election of 1998 to the latest general election of 2019. It examines the performance of national parties in these general elections by considering the percentage of women candidates in an election and the percentage of elected women representatives. By analyzing the above-mentioned variables, the study examines the role of political parties in facilitating women’s representation in India, how they address gender inequality in politics, and what political parties can do to improve women’s political representation in India.