Historic Win: Three Women Elected to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly

In the recent assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, held after a decade-long hiatus, three women were elected among the 90 members. Shagun Parihar from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) represents the Jammu region, while Shamima Firdous and Sakina Itoo are members of the National Conference from the Kashmir division. Despite this milestone, women account for only 3.33 percent of the assembly.

A total of 41 women contested in this election, an increase from 24 in 2014. The National Conference (NC) and Indian National Congress (INC) alliance secured 48 seats, but only two Hindu candidates won out of 30 from the community. The BJP achieved victory in 29 seats, with all but one belonging to Hindus.

Shagun Parihar

Shagun Parihar won the Kishtwar constituency by a narrow margin of 521 votes, defeating National Conference candidate Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo. At just 29 years old, Parihar is a research scholar with an MTech degree in electrical power systems, currently pursuing a PhD. Her political journey has been marked by personal tragedy; in 2018, her father and brother were killed by terrorists. Known for her moderate stance, her uncle gained support from the local Muslim community during tumultuous times.

Shamima Firdous

A prominent figure in the National Conference, Shamima Firdous won her Habbakadal seat by a decisive margin of 9,538 votes against BJP's Ashok Kumar Bhat, receiving 12,437 votes. Having previously held this seat from 2008 to 2014, Firdous has been instrumental in mobilizing women party workers in Srinagar, helping bolster support in the recent elections. She also served as Chairperson of the State Commission for Women during the NC-INC coalition government.

Sakina Itoo

Sakina Itoo, a former minister and senior NC leader, won from the DH Pora segment in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district with 36,623 votes, a margin of 17,449 over her nearest rival. Having entered politics at just 26, she has held various ministerial roles, including education and social welfare, showcasing her extensive experience.