WOMEN IN KERALA LEGISLATURE -...

156

WOMEN IN KERALA LEGISLATURE

The conventional attitude of the society limited the role of

women in public affairs. The male chauvinism in the society made

women in an isolated area that is their houses. The male superiority

in Party ranks and leadership, the challenges of leadership

recruitment in party politics has no doubt discouraged the scope of

generating a galaxy of women political leaders. The average

percentage of elected women in state assemblies is 6.94 per cent, the

highest being 14.44 per cent in Haryana and the lowest being 1.34

percent in Karnataka. However States like Arunachal Pradesh,

Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Union Territory of Pondicherry

have no representation of women in their Assemblies1. In Kerala the

role of women in legislature and political movement had also been

less compared to men.

Kerala Legislative Assembly

Kerala follows a Unicameral Legislative system, i.e., there is

only one house for state legislature namely the Legislative Assembly.

1 Reservation of Seats for Women in Legislative bodies: Perspectives,

Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi, July 2008, p. 6.

157

The total number of members in the Kerala legislative assembly is

fixed as 141. Of this, 140 are elected directly by the people on the

basis of adult suffrage and one member is nominated from the Latin

Community, which falls under minority category. The members of

the legislative assembly elect one of the members as its Speaker and

Deputy Speaker. The Speaker presides over the meetings of the

House and conducts the business of the government. The Deputy

Speaker performs the duties of the speaker in the absence of

Speaker.

Party System

In India, coalition politics came rather late, mainly because the

Indian National Congress remained to rule India’s central

government for three decades after independence. In Kerala,

however, soon after its formation in 1956, Congress lost to the

Communist Party of India. At the political level, Kerala has health

tradition of bipolar coalition politics in the backdrop of a multiparty

system. From the political part, Kerala hosts two major political

alliances: the United Democratic Front (UDF led by the Indian

National Congress) and Left Democratic Front (LDF led by the

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)). Communist Party of

India, BJP also have significant influence in the state politics. The

State parties like the Indian Union Muslim League, the Kerala

158

Congress (M), the Kerala Congress (J), and the Kerala Congress (B),

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) are active in Kerala politics.

First general election to the Kerala State legislature-1957

The First general election to the Kerala State legislature was

held in February and March 1957. The Communist party of India

and a few Independents supported by it secured 65 of the 114 seats

in the legislature. President’s rule was lifted on April 5, 1957 and a

Communist Ministry under the Chief Ministership of

E.M.S.Namboothiripad came to power2. Elections were held for one

hundred and fourteen seats of which one hundred and two seats in

were general category rest of the seats were reserved to scheduled

caste. Four hundred and six candidates contested in this election, of

which women candidates were only nine. The communist party of

India gave three seats for women while six candidates contested on

Indian National Congress ticket3 Out of one hundred and fourteen

seats in the legislative Assembly, only six members were women.

Sarojini, Saraswati Amma and Nafeesa Beevi, all of them

unsuccessfully contested in the election on Indian National Congress

ticket.

2 A.Sreedhara Menon, op.cit, p. 301.

3 Statistical Report on the General Elections, 1957 to the Legislative

Assembly of Kerala, pp. 1-11.

List of Women Candidates won in the First General Elections

159

Of the six women members, Ayisha bai become the first deputy

speaker of the first Kerala Legislative assembly from 06-05-1957 to

31-07-1959. She was born on 25 October 1926, Daughter of Mr.

Usman Sahib and Smt. Fatima Beevi. Her political career began even

while a student, when she participated in the students Congress in

1947. She was in the forefront in organizing women’s movement in

Kerala. She also chaired many other positions like chairperson of the

Committee on Government Assurances (1961-1963); State Vice

President of Kerala Mahila Sangham of Communist party of India.

Member of the Central Social Welfare Board, and member of the

State Watchdog Committee on prisons. She expired on 28-10-2005.

In the first legislative assembly, K.R.Gouri Amma was the only

women figure in the ministry. She handled Revenue Port folio. As a

revenue minister in the first communist government (1957-1959) K R

Gouri Amma was responsible for initiating the land reforms in

Name Party Constituency

Aysha Bai K O CPI Kayamkulam

K.R Gouri Amma CPI Shertala

Rosamma Punnose CPI Devikulam

Kusumam Joseph INC Karaikode

Leela Damodara Menon INC Kunnamkulam

Saradha Krishnan INC Kozhikode

160

Kerala4.Since then she represented Arroor constituency continuously

except three times. So we can briefly look into her achievements in

the coming paragraphs.

K R Gouri Amma

K R Gouri Amma was born in a well to do family of Ezhava

community in Travancore. She was born to K A Raman and Parvathi

Amma on 14 July 1919 at Cherthala. She got her early studies at

Thuravoor and her higher studies at Cherthala , Ernakulum and

Thiruvananthapuram Completing her BA and BL5. While studying

law she was attracted to communism and become a social

worker.Gouri amma was soon accepted as the leader of the working

class. Since 1952, she won all the elections from Alappuzha District.

She went jail several times for the common cause. She united the

farmers under the Communist banner. She got married with the

Communist leader and Senior minister T V Thomas. In 1952 and

1954 she contested the Assembly elections at Thiru-Cochi

Legislature Assembly and got elected from 1952-1953 and 1954-

1956 with great majority. In 1957, she became the member of the

first Kerala Assembly from Sherthalai and become the Revenue

Minister in the EMS Government. She was also the member of the

4 Kumar A, op.cit, pp.362-363.

5 Swathantryasamara Senanikal (Malayalam) 1980, pp.999-1000.

161

Second Kerala Legislative Assembly from Sherthalai Constituency, In

the Third Kerala Legislative Assembly she represented Aroor

Constituency.Again she represented Aroor Constituency in the fourth

Legislative Assembly. She lost in the Fifth Assembly election but won

consecutively from Aroor Constutuency from sixth to ninth general

elections representing Communist Party Of India (Marxist). During

these tenures she was the revenue minister from 05-04-1957 to 31-

07-1959 and from 06-03-1967 to 01-11-1969. Minister of Agriculture

and Social Welfare from 25-01-1980 to 20-10-1981, Minister for

Industries and Social Welfare from 02-04-1987 to 17-06-1991,

Minister for Agriculture and Coir from 17-05-2001 to 29-08-2004.

She was expelled from the Communist Party of India (Marxist)on 01-

01-1994 and formed a new party called Janathipathya Samrakshana

Samiti (JSS). She came to the tenth and eleventh legislative

assemblies winning from Aroor on Janathipathya Samrakshana

Samiti banner. As a member of the legislative assembly as well as a

minister, she proved her dedication and sacrifice. Apart from this she

also decorated some other positions like Chairman, Committee on

Government Assurances from 1960 to 1961, Public Accounts

Committee from 1986 to 1987. She held some political positions like

Member of the CPI(M) State Secretariat, Parliamentary party leader of

the Janathipathya Samrakshana Samiti. President of the Kerala

Karshaka Sangam from 1960-1984 and Kerala Mahila Sangam from

162

1967 to 1976. From 1976 to 19876, she was the Secretary of the

Kerala Mahila Sangam. She is one of the longest served members of

Kerala Legislative Assembly. She was elected to the Kerala Legislative

Assembly in all elections except 1977, 2006 and 2011.

Some of the legislative measures and policies of the communist

led government evoked opposition. It paved the way for an agitation

and finally the overthrow of the government in1959. The agitation

was popularly known as Vimochana Samaram or liberation Struggle

that began on June 12 under the leader ship of Mannathu

Padmanabhan, the NSS leader and all the non-Communist political

parties of Kerala including the Indian National Congress, The Praja

socialist Party, the Revolutionary socialist party and the Muslim

League took part in it. The agitation turned serious and violent,

police made fire on four places at Ankamali, Pullivila, and Vettukad

and cheriatura killing in all 15 persons. Considering the situation in

account the governor of Kerala recommended the president to

dissolve the Kerala government. On July 31, 1959, the president

issued a proclamation taking over the administration of the state

under Section 356 of the constitution of India7.

Second Legislative Assembly of Kerala

6 Kumar A, op.cit, pp.362-363.

7 A.Sreedhara Menon, op.cit, p.301.

163

In February 1960, fresh elections were held to the Kerala

legislative assembly. This time a new electoral alliance between the

Indian national Congress, the Praja socialist party and Muslim

league was formed against the Communist party. Indian national

Congress led alliance got majority and formed a coalition ministry

with Pattom A Thanu Pillai, the Praja Socialist Party Leader as the

chief Minister. On February 22, 1960 the ministry cane into exist;

lifting the president rule from the state8. The speaker of the second

legislative assembly was from the Muslim league.

Elections were held for one hundred and fourteen

constituencies of which one constituency was reserved for Schedule

caste. Totally, only thirteen were women of three hundred and twelve

contestants. All India Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Communist Party of

India, Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party, Muslim league

and many independent candidates contested in the election9.

List Of Women members in the Second General Elections-196010


Aysha Bai CPI Kayamkulam

8 Ibid, p.302.

9 Statistical report on the General elections, 1960 to the Legislative


10 Ibid, pp. 5-12.

164

K.R.Saraswathi Amma

INC Chengannur

Nafeesath Beevi INC Alleppey

KR.Gouri Amma CPI Sherthala

Kosumam Joseph INC Karikode

O.T.Sarada Krishnan INC Kozhikode

Leela Damodara Menon

INC Kunnamangalam

Mariam Beevi, Ratnam Ranganath Rai, Devaki Krishnan,

Umadevi Antharjanam, Rosamma Ponnose, Sathibhai are women

candidates who were contested in the election. In the second

assembly, Nafeesath Beevi was elected as the deputy speaker. She

retained in office 15-03-1960 to 10-09-1964. Nafeesa Beevi also

worked on various capacities like member of AICC, KPCC, Kerala

State Women’s commission.

In September 1962, Pattom A.Thanu pillai was appointed as

the Governor of Punjab State and R Sankar, the leader of the

Congress party became the Chief Minister. Due to difference of

opinion, the Praja Socialist party and the Muslim league left the

alliance. The Government led by R Sankar resigned the office on

September 10, 1964 as he lost majority in the legislature. With the

fall of the Sankar government, again the president rule was

implemented in Kerala.

165

Third Legislative Assembly-1965

The Third general Election was a midterm election and almost

all the political parties like Indian national Congress, Communist

party of India, Communist party of India (Marxist), Kerala Congress,

Muslim League, and Sumyuktha Socialist party contested

independently without any alliance11. 558 candidates contested in

the third legislative assembly election, of which only 10 contestants

were women. That was only 2 percent of the total contestants12.

List Of Women in The Third General Elections-1965


KR Gouri Amma CPI(M) Aroor

Suseela Gopalan CPI(M) Mararikulam

K.R.Saraswathi Amma Kerala Congress Chengannur

KO Aisha Bai, Devaki Krishnan, M Kamalam, O.T.Sarada Krishnan,

Leela Damodara Menon, Thankamma Varghese and Aleykutty

Thomas were the unsuccessful candidates. Out of 133 seats in the

assembly, women got only three seats it was just below 3% of the

total seats. Of the women contestants, five were from Indian national

11 A.Sreedhara menon, op.cit, p. 302.



166

congress, three of them contested with communist party of India

(Marxist) Ticket, one from Kerala Congress and one independent

candidate. Hence, no party got majority in the legislature, the

governor recommended for the president rule as no party was in a

position to form a stable government. Following the recommendation

on March 24 1965 dissolved the newly elected legislative assembly.

Kerala continued under president’s rule.13

Fourth General Election -1967

Four hundred and twenty three candidates contested in the

Fourth Kerala Legislative Assembly election, of which only seven

were women candidates. Out of 133 seats, 120 falls on general

category 11 seats were reserved for Scheduled caste and two seats

for Schedule tribe14. KR Gouri Amma of CPI(M)from Aroor

constituency was the only women who elected to the fourth

legislative assembly. D Krishnan, KRS Amma, S N Pilla, S.Abraham,

M.Kamalam, Sarada also participated in the election. In this

election, 3229370 women that are 74.08% exercised their

constitutional right and cast their vote15. In the election of 1967 a

united front comprising seven political parties led by Communist

party of India (Marxist) faced the election and won a thumping

13 A.Sreedhara Menon,op.cit , p. 302.



15 Ibid. pp. 14-18.

167

majority. They got 117 out of 133 seats in the Kerala legislative

Assembly. The leader of the Communist party of India (Marxist)

E.M.Sankaran Namboodiripad headed the government. Thus, a long

spell of president rule ended. However the EMS Namboodiripad

government fell in October 1969 and a new government excluding

Communist party of India (Marxist) led by C.Achyuta Menon, the

leader of the communist party of India sworn in as chief minister on

November 1 1969. The Achuta Menon government resigned on 1

August 1970, and the state assembly was dissolved which paved the

way for the new general election.

Fifth General Election- 1970

In the new general elections held in September 1970 The

Indian national Congress and its allies Communist party of India got

a clear majority. C Achuta Menon of Communist party of India

became the Chief Minister of Kerala on October 4 1970.Out of 133

seats 121 were general seats and 10 seats were reserved for

Scheduled caste and 2 Seats for Scheduled tribe. 505 candidates

contested in the election of which only eight were women

List Of Women in The Fifth General Elections -1970


K R Gouri Amma CPI(M) Aroor

168

Pennamma Jacob Kerala Congress Muvattupuzha

Palluruthy, Leela Damodara Menon, P K Ambika, TP Vinodini

Amma, M Kamalam, Saraswathi Rugmini were the women

candidates who lost in the election. In the Fifth legislative Assembly,

out of 121 members only two members were women. In this election

out of 5092889 women voters, 3772720 women voters cast their vote

to decide their representatives in the legislative Assembly16.

Sixth Assembly Election 1977

Normally elections were held once in five years, as per

schedule the sixth general election to the Kerala legislative assembly

should have take place in the latter half of 1976. However, in the

wake of the declaration of the emergency in June 1975 throughout

India, the election Commission decision to postpone elections

throughout the country. The general elections due to take place in

Kerala in 1976 were postponed. In circumstances, the second Achuta

Menon ministry continued in office for its full term of five years and

even beyond the record as far as Kerala state concerned.

With the withdrawal of the emergency general elections were

held in the country on March 1977. Whereas the elections brought


Assembly of Kerala, pp.1-11.

169

the newly formed Janata party to power and in many north Indian

States, Kerala presented an entirely different picture. Here the united

front consisting of the Indian national congress, the communist

party of India, the Indian union Muslim league, the Kerala congress

and the revolutionary socialist party won 111 of the total 140 seats17.

Devaki Warrier, K G Karuna, Mary Varghese, M A Sarojani,

Pennamma Jacob, K R Gouri Amma, M D Janamma, K R Saraswati

Amma were the women candidates in this election. Total number of

constituency was increased this time to 140 seats, in which 126 were

general seats, 12 seats were reserved for scheduled caste, and the

rest two seats were reserved for the scheduled tribes. Totally 569

candidates contested in the elections, of which 11 were women

candidates. Bargavi Thankappan was the only woman elected to the

sixth legislative assembly.

Women voters in 1977 Assembly election.

18 Men Women Total

Number of Electors 5675101 5788386 11463487


18 Statistical report on the General elections, 1977to the Legislative


170

Number of Electors who voted 4463042 4615417 9078459

Polling % 78.64% 79.74% 79.19%

For the first time in Kerala history, women’s participation as

voter outnumbered men. A new ministry headed by K Karunakaran,

the leader of the congress legislature party, assumed office on March

23 1977. However, the Karunakaran ministry was short-lived, as the

chief minister had to resign after a month on the issue of police

excesses. Committed in what came to be known as the ‘Rajan case’.

The fall of the Karunakaran ministry was followed by the formation

of a new ministry headed by A K Antony. The Antony ministry was in

office from April 25 1977 to October 28 1978. It was during his

period that the Indian National Congress faced a vertical split on the

issue of the continued leadership of the party by Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

A K Antony who headed the anti-Indira section in the party resigned

office to protest against the decision of his party high command to

support Mrs. Gandhi in the Chickamagalur bye-election.

P.K. Vasudevan Nair headed the new Ministry, which assumed

office on October 29, 1978. It continued to be in power until October

12, 1979, when the Chief Minister tendered his resignation following

differences of opinion among the front. Another ministry headed by

171

the Muslim league leader C H Muhammad Koya held office from

October 12 to December 5, 1979. C H Muhammad Koya ministry

resigned and president rule was implemented on December 5 1979.

Seventh Assembly election 1980

The elections to the legislative assembly were held in January.

The left democratic front led by Communist party of India (Marxist)

swiped 93 out of 140 seats. The new Left democratic Front Ministry

headed by E K Nayanar, the Communist party of India (Marxist) was

sworn in on January 25, 1980. The elections were held to 140 seats,

of which 126 were general category. Thirteen seats were reserved for

the Scheduled Caste and the rest one seat was given to the

Scheduled tribe19.

List of Women members In The Seventh General Elections-198020


P Devooty CPI(M) Azhicode

M Kamalam Independent

candidate

Kalpetta


19 A.Sreedhara menon,op.cit, p. 302.



172

K R Saraswathi Amma Independent candidate

Chengannur

Bhargavi Thankappan CPI Kilimanoor

Narayani Karunakaran, Mari James, Kusumam, Joseph

Mariam, C N Chellamma Krishnan, Aleykutty Albert, J M Daisy, A

Nafeesath Beevi were the candidates in the election. 602 candidates

contested for 140 seats to the Kerala legislative assembly, of them

only 13 were women candidates. Five women members elected to the

legislative assembly. M.Kamalam of Indian National Congress got

the portfolio of Corporation in the ministry of seventh Kerala

Legislative Assembly21.

Women voters in 1980 Assembly election

22 Men Women Total


Number of Electors who voted

4806703 4780855 9587558

21 A.Kumar(ed.), op.cit, p.357.



173

Polling % 73.22% 71.26% 72.23%

The Nayanar ministry fell on October 20, 1981 following the

withdrawal of support from the congress led by A.K.Antony and

Kerala Congress (Mani Group). Kerala faced another spell of

President’s rule from October 21st to December 27, 1981. After the

realignment of parties, a new ministry under the Congress (I) leader

K Karunakaran sworn in on December 28, 1981. Following a loss of

majority Karunakaran ministry resigned on March 17, 1982. Again,

Kerala came under president’s rule. The President’s rule was revoked

following the eighth general elections in 1982.

The Eighth general elections 1982

In this general election, The United Democratic Front led by

the Congress (I) got majority of 77 seats out of 140 and formed the

ministry under the leadership of K Karunakaran. He assumed the

office on May 24, 198223. It completed its full tenure. For the total

140 seats 682 candidates contested, of which only 17 were women.

List Of Elected Women Candidates In The Seventh General Elections-198224




174


P Devooty CPI(M) Azhicode

M Kamalam Independent candidate Kalpata


Apart from the winning candidates M. T Padma (INC),

Nedumangalam, Ahallya Sankar (BJP), Beypore, M.Devaki Amma

(BJP)-Ponnani, R Parvathi Subramonyam (Independent candidate)-

Palghat, Meenakshi Vallan(Independent candidate) –Mala,

Saraswathi Rama Iyer (Independent candidate)- Perumbavoor, N

Kamakshi vikraman (Independent candidate)-Devicolam, K N

Ammukutty (Independent candidate)-Kottyam, Vilasini Amma

(Independent candidate)- Ettumanoor, Aleyamma Joseph

(Independent candidate)- Kaduthuruthy, Samual Daisy (Independent

candidate)- Kayamkulam, K R Saraswathi Amma (Independent

candidate)- Chengannur, were also contested in this election.


25 Men Women Total





175

who voted

Polling % 73.52 73.51 73.51

In this election women cast their vote as par with men.

Number of women contestants increased in this election. However,

the number of women members elected to the assembly remained

single digit and this time it was just four. By-elections held in1986,

Raichel Sunny Panaveli of Kerala Congress was elected to the

assembly.26

The Ninth General Elections 1987

In the general election held to the Kerala legislative assembly

in march 1987 the United democratic front suffers defeat at the

hands of the opposition left democratic front and a new LDF Ministry

under the leadership of EK Nayanar came to power on March 25

1987. LDF had 79 MLAs out of 140. The LDF government led by EK

Nayanar continued till June 24 199127.

There were 1254 contestants in fray, of which 34 were women

contestants.

List Of Elected Women Candidates In The Ninth General

Elections-198728

26 A.Kumar(ed.), op.cit, 2006, p.356.




176


M T Padma INC Quilandy

Leela Damodara Menon

INC Pattambi


Rosamma Chacko INC Idukki

Rosamma Ponnuse INC Alleppey

J Mercy Kutty Amma CPI(M) Kundara


Nabeesa Ummal Independent

candidate Kazhakottam

Apart from this T.J Leelamoni –Kottayam, Sarada Ravi-

Kaduthuruthy, Alice Krishnan - Trikkapur, Leela Chellappan –

Meppayur, T Devi - Quilandy, Vijaya D Nair – Balusseri, M Kamalam

– Calicut, Ahalya Sankar- Beypore, MP Sree Vally - Mannarkad,

Girija Surendren Palghat, K V Pushpa Chelakara, Meenakshi

Tamban, Meenakshi Vallon – Maala, MC Josephine, Mary Varghese –

Ankamali, MP Sarojani Amma, Saraswathi Ramayar Perumpavoor,

Mary Syriac- Idukky, PV Kutty Amma Vazhoor, Leela Thomas –

Punaloor, Subhadra- Chadayanmangalam, K L Thankamony-

Karunagapally, Indira Parameswaran – Ariyanad, raichal mathai

kazhakuttam, Suseela Rajan- Trivandrum West, Radha- Nemom

177

were the other women contestants29. Bhargavi Thankappan who was

elected from Kilimanoor became the protem speaker eighth Kerala

legislative assembly and later become the deputy speaker from

02.04.1987 to 05.04.1991.


30 Men Women Total


Number of Electors

who voted 6333373 6513316 12846689

Polling % 80.51% 80.58% 80.54%

In the 1987 election, statistics shows large number of women

participated in the election and cast their vote. This time 80.5 was

slightly greater than the men voters were.

Tenth Assembly Elections 1991

In the Tenth general election, the UDF government led by

Congress (I) leader K Karunakaran came to power. This minister had

to lay down office on march 22, 1995 with the resignation of Chief





178

Minister K Karunakaran following a revolt in the ranks of the

coalition partners against his leadership. A new UDF ministry under

A K Antony came to power31. In the tenth general assembly election

809 contestants participated of which 26 were women.

List Of Elected Women Candidates In The Ninth General Elections-199132


M T Padma INC Quilandy

N K Radha CPI(M) Perambra

Rosamma Chako INC Chalakudi

Meenakshi Thampan CPI Kodungallur


Sobhana George INC Chengannur

Alphonsa John INC Kundara

K C Rosakutty INC Sulthan’s Bettery

In the 1991 election, eight women members were elected to the

legislative assembly. Leela Damodara Menon (INC) from Pattambi,

Rukhiya Beevi Ali an independent candidate from Kunnathunad,

Jameela Ibrahim (INC) from Karunagapally, J Mercy Kutty Amma

31 A.Sreedhara menon, op.cit, p.304.



179

(CPI (M)) from Kundara, A Nabeesa Ummal (CPI(M)) from

Kazhakoottam got second position in their respective assembly

constituencies.


33 Men Women Total



7148769 7285241 14434010

Polling % 73.58% 73.27% 73.42%

Eleventh Assembly Elections 1996

In the Eleventh Assembly election the LDF got majority and

CPI(M) leader E K Nayanar again became the Chief minister of Kerala

in May 1996.







180

K K Shylaja CPI(M) Kuthuparambu

Radha Raghavan INC North Waynad

N K Radha CPI(M) Perambra

Girija Surendran CPI(M)

Sree Krishnapuram

Savithri Lakshmanan INC Chalakudi

Rosamma Chako INC Manalur

Meenakshi Thamban CPI Kodungallur

K R Gouri Amma JPSS Aroor

Suseela Gopalan CPI(M) Ambalapuzha


Latha Devi CPI Chadayamangalam

J Mercy Kuttyamma CPI(M) Kundara


In this general election, 55 women members contested, of

which 13 become members of the legislative assembly and got the

chance to serve the people. Qumarunnisa Anvar (Muslim league)

from Calicut-II, K C Rosakutty(INC) from Sulthan’s bettery, R

Chellamma (INC) Alathur, Mercy Ravi INC Mala, Sarojini Balanandan

CPI(M) from Alwaye, Visalakshi (INC) from Kunnathur, Alphonsa

John (INC) from Kundara, W.R Heeba (CPI(M)) from Parassala came

in the second position in the elections. Suseela Gopalan, wife of great

Communist leader A.K. Gopalan become the minister for industries

and social welfare during this tenure.

181


35 Men Women Total


Number of Electors who voted 7227515 7479291 14706806

Polling % 72.01% 70.36% 71.16%

Twelfth Assembly Elections 2001

In May 2001 twelfth Assembly election the UDF got a majority

of 100 seats out of 140. The Congress led UDF ministry under A K

Antony sworn in May 2001. He resigned the office following the total

rout of the Congress in the LOK Sabha elections of 2004. On August

31, 2004 Oommen Chandy succeeded as Chief Minister36.



P K Sreemathi Teacher CPI(M) Payyannur






182

Radha Raghavan INC North Wyanad

Girija Surendran CPI(M) Sree KrishnaPuram

Prof.Savithri Lakshmanan

INC Chalakudi

Mercy Ravi INC Kottayam

K R Gouri Amma JPSS Aroor

Malethu Sarala Devi INC Aranmula


Adv. Alphonsa John (INC) – Kovalam, Adv. Bindu Ummar (CPI

(M)) – Kazhakuttam, Prof. Kallada Vijayam (PSP)- Quilon, Mercy

kutty Amma (CPI (M)) – Kundara, R Latha devi (CPI)-

Chadayamangalam, K L Bindhu (CPI (M)) – Pandalam, Adv. K K

Sajitha Alwaye, Prof. Meenakshi Thampan (CPI)- Kodungallur, Usha

Teacher (CPI (M)) –Kunnamangalam, K A Thulasi (INC)- Chelakara, R

Chellamma Teacher (INC)- Alathur, E K Maleeha (CPI (M)) –

Kondotty, K S Vijayam (NCP)- Malapuram, Adv. P Sateedevi (CPI (M))

–Calicut I contested in this election and got second position in the

election.


38 Men Women Total




183


7826928 7915824 15742752

Polling % 74.39% 70.67% 72.47%

Thirteenth General Elections 2006

In the general Election held in May 2006, LDF got 98 seats out

of 140. V S Achuthanandan became the Chief minister of kerala39.



P K Sreemathi Teacher CPI(M) Payyannur

K K Shylaja Teacher CPI(M) Peravoor

K S Saleeka CPI(M) Sreekrishnapuram

Adv Aisha Potti CPI(M) Kottarakara

J Arundhathi CPI(M) Vamanapuram

KK Lathika CPI(M) Meppayur

E S Bijimol CPI Peermede41

Leelamma of INC from Ollur, Prof Savitri Lekshman of INC

from Chalakudi, Fathima Abdul Khadar Pambinezhath of CPI from

Nattika, M C Josphine of CPI (M) from Mattancherry, Adv. Shani Mol

Usman of INC from Perumbavoor, Sindhu Joy of CPI(M) from






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Putupally, KR Gouri Amma of JPSS from Aroor, Simmi Rose Bell

John of INC from Mararikulam, G Rajamma of CPI(M) from

Mavelikara, Shobana George of DIC from Thiruvananthapuram west

were the contestants who got second position in this election.

Women representation - an analysis

The voters in Kerala showed maximum participation in

assembly elections compared to other states in India. Barring the

first assembly election 1957, voter turnout had never fallen below

72% in the state. The state had always recorded higher polling

percentage than the national average in all general elections, since

195742. Women voters also made fair participation in all general

elections. In 1967 general election, 74.08 per cent women cast their

votes while 75.33 men participated in it. The number of women

contestants in general elections both in state legislative and Lok

Sabha gradually increased in all states. Kerala also showed a

tremendous growth on women contestants. In 1967, there were only

seven women contestants while there were 423 male contestants. It

showed very marginal participation of about one percentage of the

total contestants. The situation was similar in Tamil Nadu, Haryana

and West Bengal. In 1977, legislative assembly elections 11 women

contested in the elections which showed a nominal growth of around

two percentages. In 1996 assembly elections 55 women participated,

42 Biju, M. R. Politics of democracy and decentralization in India a case

study of Kerala, New Delhi: Atlantic publishers and Distributors,

1997, p.21.

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that is about five percentage of the total contestants. But in 2006

women showed better participation of about 7.5 percentages43

Women in Kerala Legislative assemblies from 1956-2006

Source: Reports on various general elections.

Participation of Women in Political Parties

Political parties are an establishment part of modern

democracy and in the conduct of election for the parliamentary form

of government, the role of political parties is crucial. Although a good

number of candidates in the elections are independent, the winning

candidates for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha(State Legislatures)

elections usually are party candidates. Elections show that people

tend to vote for parties rather than candidates. India follows multi-

43 Key Highlights of General Elections 1967 to 2006 to the Legislative

Assemblies of Tamil Nadu, Haryana, West Bengal and Kerala, Election

Commission of India.

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party system with a predominance of small regional parties. Political

parties are recognised by the constitutional body called Election

Commission of India. Election commission classify the parties into

national Party, State parties and registered unrecognised parties.

Kerala has a distinct in political condition compare to other states.

Parties like Indian National Congress and the Communist parties.

Indian National Congress had its roots early from the 20th century.

Congress becomes a prominent party by organizing the civil

disobedience movement. Communist party becomes popular by

taking the common issues of workers, peasants, agricultural

laborers, students, teachers, youth and women etc. Since the end of

1930’s they organized and led many mass movements and become a

major agent of the politicization of the mass of Kerala peoples. Kerala

is one part of India where the Communist party assimilated the most

progressive features. Now each political party had its women wing to

strengthen its position among the women voters.

Indian National Congress

The formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 was an

epoch in the history of India. It was the back bone of India’s freedom

movement. From the beginning, Congress was in favor of women’s

emancipation. Mahatma Gandhi insisted women to join Congress in

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order to speed up the freedom movement. Women were warmly

welcomed to the organization. Dr. Annie Besant becomes the first

women president of the Indian National Congress. In Kerala women

become active members of Congress and took part in movements like

Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement, Swadeshi Movement. The

women’s wing called Kerala Mahila Congress played an active part in

organizing women in the political arena. The leaders like Alphonsa

John, Mercy Ravi entered politics through this wing.

In Kerala student’s unions are very active. Kerala Students

Union, a wing of Indian National Congress formed in 30th May 1957

in Alappuzha. The involvement of women students in this union

cannot be ignored. Youth Congress, another wing attracted young

women to this organization.

Communist party of India

An important feature of the freedom movement in Kerala in the

1920's and 1930's was the increasing involvement of peasants and

workers. This was to release a tremendous mass force into the

mainstream of the national movement, giving it a new momentum

and a social content. The peasant and labour movements of the

1930's were to a great extent the cause as well as the consequence of

the emergence of a powerful left wing in politics. In 1934, the left

nationalists joined together and organized the Congress Socialist

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Party. High wages for workers and powerful trade unions were also

contributions of the Communist Parties in Kerala.

Early leaders like Rosamma Punnoose, K.O.Aysha Bai,

Bhargavi Thankappan, actively participated in Kerala Mahila

Sangham, the women’s wing of Communist Party of India. Prof.

Meenakshi Thamban entered politics through Kerala Mahila

Sangham. R.Latha Devi, E.S.Bijimol are the active leaders of

Communist Party of India.

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

The CPI (M) was formed at the Seventh Congress of the

Communist party of India held in Calcutta from October 31 to

November 7, 1964. Now CPI (M) is the biggest party in the LDF front.

Girija Surendran, P.Devootty, P.K.Sreemathi Teacher, J.Arundathy,

K.K.Shylaja Teacher, K.K.Lathika, J.Mercykutty Amma, N.K.Radha,

K.S.Saleeka are the prominent women leaders CPI (M). The student's

wing and women's wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

motivated women to enter into politics in their early ages. Now SFI

has emerged as one of the prominent student's union in Kerala.

Kerala has a different political scenario. The coalition exists in

Kerala politics is one of the significance. Major political parties

distribute the constituencies with its allied parties. Due to this

adjustment most of the State parties will get four or five seats. This

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discouraged the small political parties to nominate women

candidates as they gained few seats which were insufficient for their

men leaders. The political parties other than the national parties in

Kerala rarely nominate women as candidates. This is one of the

reasons for the less representation of women in assembly. Both

fronts, LDF and UDF showed stunning performance and the winning

margin was mostly few hundreds, which opt them to consider senior

leaders mostly men. Even in this adverse situation women showed

an increasing graph both as winning candidates and contestants.

The high voting percentage of women compelled the political parties

to announce favours to women in their election manifesto. Kerala is

an excellent example of women empowering themselves.

WOMEN IN KERALA LEGISLATURE -...

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