Introduction:

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked a significant step forward for women’s participation in Indian politics. With 800 women candidates contesting across 390 constituencies, this was the highest ever since the 1957 general elections. This surge in women candidates has been a positive reflection of the evolving role of women in India's democratic processes.

Increase in Women Candidates:

• A total of 800 women candidates participated in the 2024 elections, up from 726 in 2019.
• The number of constituencies with no female candidate dropped to a historic low of 152, from 171 in 2019.
• However, despite the rise in participation, only 74 women won, while 629 forfeited their deposits.

Regional Variations:

• The highest number of women candidates were from Maharashtra (111), followed by Uttar Pradesh (80) and Tamil Nadu (77).
• Some constituencies, like Baramati, Secunderabad, and Warangal, saw the highest participation of women, with eight candidates each.

Voter Turnout and Gender Dynamics:

• Women voters surpassed men in voter turnout for the second consecutive time, with 65.78% women casting their vote in 2024, compared to 65.55% of men.
• Assam’s Dhubri recorded the highest female voter turnout at 92.17%, reflecting increased female engagement in the electoral process.

Electoral Data and Gender Insights:

• In 2024, there were 47.63 crore female electors out of 97.97 crore total voters, making up 48.62% of the electorate, a slight increase from 2019.
• The number of female electors per 1,000 male voters reached 946, up from 926 in 2019, showing growing electoral inclusivity.

Challenges and Progress:

• Despite the gains in women’s representation, there remain several constituencies without any female candidates, notably in states like Uttar Pradesh (30 constituencies), Bihar (15), and Gujarat (14).
• Though women's participation has risen, the number of women who win remains disproportionately low, reflecting the challenges they face in a patriarchal political landscape.

Inclusion and Diversity:

• The 2024 elections also saw greater inclusivity, with a rise in third-gender electors, which increased by 23.5% to 48,272.
• Voter turnout among transgender voters nearly doubled, reaching 27.09% compared to 14.64% in 2019.
• Additionally, the number of persons with disabilities (PwD) electors increased to 90.28 lakh, showcasing broader electoral inclusivity.

Conclusion:

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a remarkable increase in women’s participation, both as voters and candidates. While the journey toward full gender parity in politics continues, the trends from these elections indicate a growing shift toward more inclusive electoral processes. The data released by the Election Commission further underlines this progress, showing the increasing role of women in shaping India’s democratic future.