Male chauvinists to note: female voters outnumbered them in recent polls

Lucknow: Women organisations across the country have got something to cheer from the assembly elections which have just concluded. Female voters have outnumbered their male counterparts in most of the states where polling was held.

The two states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand which are considered socially backward stand out in this regard, pushing some others behind.

In Uttar Pradesh which was one of the five states which had gone to polls , the jump in percentage of voting, in comparison to elections held ten years ago, was more than 20 . It is a phenomenal increase, every one agrees.

As per figures released by the Election Commission, only about 42 per cent female voters exercised their franchise in the year 2007 which rose to 60 per cent in next elections and 63 per cent in the recent ones. Male voters were much behind in comparison.

Figures speak themselves. The male voting percentage which was 49 ten years ago, increased to 59 per cent in 2012 and remained the same in the recent polls.

The neighbouring state of Uttarakhand registered 70 per cent voting in case of females. Unlike Uttar Pradesh a one-day poll was held in that state on !5th of last month for 69 assembly seats. Election for one left out seat was held this month along with polling in one constituency in Uttar Pradesh

In view of the high voting percentage and better female participation, the clamour for 50 per cent reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies may reach a crescendo .

At least one political heavy-weight has already come out in support for women reservation. Chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, in an interview to a newspaper on Thursday, declared that he was all for it. " I may have differences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on other issues but on this I am one with him", he assured.

The recent elections will be also remembered for a few things more. Many more liquor bottles were seized this year than in 2012 when assembly elections were held last. Cash seizure figures were equally high. Punjab topped in liquor bottle seizure.

The Commission suspected that these bottles and cash were meant for distribution among electorate to seek support which has been declared unethical and unlawful.