In India, women-centric politics comes to the fore in crucial state elections

Indian political parties are targeting women voters with financial aid and empowerment schemes, acknowledging their increasing electoral influence

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Women stand in a queue to cast their vote at a polling station during the second phase of the general elections, in Barmer, Rajasthan, India, on April 26. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:18pm, 13 Dec 2024

In a dramatic shift in India’s electoral landscape, political leaders are increasingly vying for women’s votes through financial aid and empowerment schemes, sidelining the caste and religious agendas that typically dominate campaigns in an effort to woo a growing voter bloc seen as crucial for election success.

On Thursday, Arvind Kejriwal, embattled leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man’s Party) which governs Delhi state, became the latest to join the trend by announcing a Mahila Samman Yojana (Respect for Women Programme) that would give 1,000 Indian rupees (US$12) each month to all women over 18. He has also promised to double this amount if reelected.

Observers view this initiative as a strategic effort to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has not governed Delhi since 1998.

Kejriwal’s new initiative seems to borrow from the BJP’s own playbook, that contributed to their unexpected electoral success last month in Maharashtra, the state that houses Mumbai, India’s financial capital. The BJP’s approach included a programme that promised monthly payments of 1,500 rupees to women from families earning less than 250,000 rupees a year.

Indian Muslim women show their ink marked fingers after casting their votes during Maharashtra state assembly elections in Mumbai, India on November 20. Photo: AP

BJP leaders dismissed Kejriwal’s plan as a gimmick and accused him of making false promises.