Women secure 13 of 19 chairperson posts in Medak municipal polls

Women emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of reservations in the recently held municipal elections in the erstwhile Medak district, securing 13 of 19 chairperson posts and a majority of vice-chairperson and ward positions across municipalities.

Sangareddy: Thanks to reservations in local body elections, the recently concluded municipal polls have emerged as a clear example of political empowerment of women, who secured 13 of the 19 municipal chairperson posts in the erstwhile Medak district.

While 12 chairperson posts were reserved for women in the district, a woman was elected as chairperson in Husnabad even though the post was open to men as well. Out of the 19 municipalities, only six men were elected as chairpersons, though they secured nine vice-chairperson posts. However, women outperformed men in vice-chairperson posts as well, securing 10 positions.

Interestingly, in Siddipet district, both the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of all four municipalities, Cheriyal, Dubbak, Cheriyal and Husnabad, were women. In Medak district, the chairpersons of all four municipalities, Medak, Narsapur, Ramayampet and Toopran, were women, while they also secured the vice-chairperson posts in Ramayampet and Toopran.

Though 50 per cent of wards were reserved for women, they won in 219 wards, surpassing men who won 194 wards. In Sadasivapet municipality, women won 17 out of the total 26 wards. In 11 out of the 19 municipalities, women won more wards than men.

Since many leaders fielded their wives and other women family members for chairperson posts, most of which were reserved for women, the number of women contestants and winners increased considerably across municipalities this time.

Men secured both chairperson and vice-chairperson posts only in four municipalities, Narayankhed, Andole-Jogipet, Jinnaram and Kohir.