Women remain underrepresented in Raj’s RS, only nine women in 74 years

Jaipur: As the process for electing three Rajya Sabha members from Rajasthan gathers pace, the spotlight has once again fallen on the state’s poor record of women’s representation in Parliament’s Upper House. Since the Rajya Sabha was constituted in 1952, Rajasthan has sent 142 members to the House, but only nine women have represented the state, highlighting a stark gender imbalance in political representation.

Nominations for the three seats will close on June 8, while polling is scheduled for June 18.

The first woman to represent Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha was Sharda Bhargava, who was elected in 1952. A Congress leader and daughter of freedom fighter and former Lok Sabha MP Mukut Bihari Bhargava, she served three consecutive terms from 1952 to 1966.

The issue of women’s representation gained renewed attention after former Congress president Sonia Gandhi entered the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan in 2024, becoming the 9th woman to represent the state in the Upper House.

Sources indicated that the BJP leadership is considering fielding a woman candidate this time. “The party wants to send a message on women’s representation by choosing a woman face from Rajasthan,” said a source familiar with the discussions.

Among the names being discussed in BJP circles are Alka Gurjar, Soumya Gurjar, Rakhi Rathore, Suman Sharma and former Sirohi Zila Pramukh Payal Parasrampuria. The Congress has not formally indicated its preference, though names such as former Rajasthan State Women’s Commission chairperson Rehana Riyaz and former Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal are being mentioned within party circles.

Besides Sharda Bhargava and Sonia Gandhi, women who have represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha include Prabha Thakur, Laxmi Kumari Chundawat, Ushi Khan, Shanti Pahadia, Narayani Devi, Jamna Devi Barupal and Najma Heptulla.

The discussion assumes added significance in the backdrop of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. For the BJP, nominating a woman would reinforce its claim of promoting women’s political participation. For the Congress, it offers an opportunity to counter the BJP’s narrative and reiterate its commitment to greater representation of women in politics.

Political observers note that the BJP has increasingly used Rajya Sabha nominations to elevate women leaders from organisational backgrounds. With women emerging as a decisive electoral constituency, the nominations are being closely watched not only for who gets elected, but also for the political message the selections will convey.