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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001328 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN PINR KDEM IN
SUBJECT: WOMEN IN THE LOK SABHA: IS IT A CHAMPAGNE MOMENT? 
 
REF: A) NEW DELHI 01226 B) NEW DELHI 1062 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The 2009 parliamentary election highlighted the possible 
emergence of women leaders in Indian politics, with the focus on 
Meira Kumar as the speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha (lower house of 
Parliament) along with a contingent of influential women leaders 
vying for parliamentary seats.  Fifty-eight of the new Lok Sabha's 
543 members are women.  The media and public impression is these MPs 
represent the aspirations of Indian women, who represent 48 percent 
of the total population.  It is not clear if the new legislators 
will prove to be a formidable force in Indian politics as suggested 
by the media.  Many of the women are descendents of powerful Indian 
political families; others were "handpicked" by Rahul Gandhi and 
have established ties with the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
------------------------------ 
PARADIGM SHIFT OR MEDIA HYPE? 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. In the run-up to April-May parliamentary elections, local media 
followed closely the campaigns of Indian women leaders, representing 
a broad range of experience from established politicians to 
fresh-faced youngsters.  The media often portrayed these candidates 
as symbolizing the rise of India's women, who make up 48 percent of 
the country's 1.15 billion population.  Some political observers, 
however, believe the "women's wave" in the 15th Lok Sabha is simply 
media hype, and that the so-called wave will have a minimal effect 
on the male-dominated Indian political landscape.  While the 58 
elected women have breached the ten percent ceiling for the first 
time and are more visible in the political arena, the current Lok 
Sabha has only 15 more women representatives than the previous one. 
 
 
¶3. Prominent women's groups welcomed the election 
results, but cautioned against premature jubilation.  Well-known 
author Shobha De cautioned, "one would like to see this as a 
positive change, but it's always not about numbers.  It's the 
quality and commitment that count."  Ranjana Kumari, President of 
Women Power Connect, an umbrella organization of several hundred 
women NGO's, added the "real test" is if political parties allow 
these women to engage in debate on the floor of the Lok Sabha. 
Kumari warned that women politicians will remain mere tokens unless 
they are "integrated" into the national political mainframe. 
 
----------------------------- 
  POLITICAL LEGACIES CONTINUE 
----------------------------- 
¶4. Most women leaders in the 15th Lok Sabha belong to families with 
deep political connections.   Speaker Meira Kumar is a daughter of a 
former deputy Prime Minister and Dalit leader, while Praneet Kaur, 
Minister of State for External affairs, is the wife of a former 
Chief Minister of Punjab.  Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP from Punjab is 
married to the present Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.  The "voice 
of the North-East" Agatha Sangma is the daughter of a former Speaker 
of the Lok Sabha and from a prominent political family in Meghalaya. 
 
 
¶5. Many novice politicians belonging to political families with good 
educational backgrounds made it to the 15th Lok Sabha. Their next 
elections, as incumbents judged on performance and accomplishments 
will be interesting to note.  Veteran female politicians like Meira 
Kumar, Krishna Tirath and Sushma Swaraj have secured spots as Lok 
Sabha speaker, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and 
Child Development and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, 
respectively. 
 
----------------------- 
SOME FRESH-FACED LEADERS 
----------------------- 
 
¶6.  A small number of women represent their constituencies as 
self-made members of parliament (MP).  Meenakshi Natarajan, who 
lacks an elite political pedigree, is a first time MP from Madhya 
 
NEW DELHI 00001328  002 OF 002 
 
 
Pradesh (Reftel A and B) and was handpicked by Congress General 
Secretary Rahul Gandhi to run for office.  Natarajan is passionate 
about energizing the youth and students to join politics..  However, 
Natarajan's rise from grassroots student politics represents the 
exception and not the rule. 
 
-------------------- 
THE NORTH/SOUTH DIVIDE 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. Despite higher social and educational indicators in South India 
(barring Andhra Pradesh), there was a virtual absence of women 
candidates or winners from South India.  Karnataka exceeds the 30 
percent quota for representation of women in Panchayati Raj 
institutions (local grassroots governance), but only sent one woman 
to the Lok Sabha. Over the last 15 terms of the Lok Sabha, only 11 
women MP's from Kerala have been nominated and elected, a clear 
indication that high development indicators have not always 
translated into gender equity at the political level.  Tamil Nadu's 
two regional parties, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 
(headed by a woman) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, nominated two 
female candidates, only one of whom won her seat.  Tamil freelance 
author and journalist Vaasanti noted "male contenders are very 
strong and women candidates are simply not allowed to go forward." 
 
 
¶8.  In comparison, five states from North India have sent 22 women 
MPs to the lower house.  Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), the largest state in 
India and one ruled by a female chief minister, sent 12 women 
members to the 15th Lok Sabha.  However the role of dynastic 
politics is still apparent.  Amongst the winners from U.P. are three 
widows, two daughters-in-law, three wives, and one daughter from 
well-connected political families. 
 
------------------------------- 
COMMENT:  CAUTIOUS CELEBRATION 
------------------------------- 
 
¶9. Despite the media and public attention surrounding the new batch 
of female MPs, most are either handpicked by Congress General 
Secretary Rahul Gandhi (Reftels A and B) or are relatives of 
powerful politicians, and could simply represent a transfer of power 
from within "old guard" Indian politics rather than any substantive 
change.  Moreover, it is not clear if these new legislators will 
prove to be a formidable force in national politics.   Unless their 
parties give them the same opportunities to lead and participate as 
male MPs, these female MPs may just remain "tokens" of the political 
establishment. END COMMENT. 
 
BURLEIGH