New Delhi: In the 17th Lok Sabha, 78 women have made an entry which is the largest number of women MPs after the Independence of India.
It may be mentioned that in all, 726 women contested Lok Sabha Polls this time but only 78 could make it. In the last Lok Sabha, there were 61 women MPs. In 1957, there were only 22 women MPs which was the least number.
Among the important women who made to Lok Sabha, Ms. Sonia Gandhi is the most important person who occupies the post of chairperson of UPA.
Another woman member of Lok Sabha is Ms. Smriti Irani who defeated Congress President, Mr. Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. NCP’s Supriya Sule, Kanimozhi of DMK and Hema Malini are other prominent women MPs.
Among the women MPs, 40 are from BJP, nine from TMC, 5 from Biju Janata Dal and six from Congress .
Three Muslim women MPs are from TMC. They are: Ms. Sajida Ahmed, wife of former MP, Late Mr. Sultan Ahmed, Ms. Afreen Ali and Ms. Nusrat Jahan Ruhi.
Ms. Ruhi is an actress who stepped into politics for the first time and won the seat. Ms. Afreen Ali embraced Islam recently.
It may be mentioned that TMC Supremo, Ms. Mamata Banerjee had given tickets to 7 Muslim candidates out of which four were women.