Gender gap evident: Only four women contest Jubilee Hills bypoll

The Jubilee Hills by-election has drawn criticism from gender equality advocates due to the low number of women candidates. Maganti Sunitha of BRS is joined by three independent women contenders, each bringing unique personal and professional backgrounds.

Hyderabad: The low representation of women among candidates in the Jubilee Hills bypoll has raised concerns among groups advocating gender equality in politics.

Of the 58 candidates contesting the by-poll scheduled for November 11, only four are women. Maganti Sunitha is standing for BRS, while the remaining three women candidates are contesting independently.

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BRS chose Maganti Sunitha, the spouse of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, who passed away in June.

Among the others, Racha Subhadra Reddy is contesting as an Independent candidate. A 75-year-old, she is contesting for Socialist Party (India) and aims for the overall development of the constituency.

Asma Begum, a 32-year-old tailor from Mahabubnagar, is an unmarried postgraduate from Siddipet.

Shaik Rafat Jahan, a private employee, is contesting as an Independent candidate from Jubilee Hills by-poll and represents an All India Majlis-e-Inquilab-e-Millat ticket. A resident of Madannapet, she holds an MSc in Applied Mathematics from Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, and is a first-time contestant.