Women Voters Dominate Assam Polls, But Representation in Assembly Remains Low

Despite women playing a major role in Assam’s elections with a higher voter turnout than men, only seven women have been elected to the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly. Most of the elected women MLAs belong to the ruling alliance, with BJP leader Ajanta Neog winning her sixth term from Golaghat.

The number of women legislators in Assam has steadily declined over the years. In the latest election, only 59 women contested among 722 candidates. While schemes like Orunodoi and Lakhpati Baideo boosted women’s support for the ruling BJP, this did not translate into higher representation in the Assembly.