Devyani Rana’s Nagrota win marks a new milestone for Jammu and Kashmir, pushing the assembly’s female representation to four for the first time. Previously, women MLAs accounted for 3.4% in 2008 and 2014, and 3.33% after the 2022 delimitation increased seats to 90. Rana’s victory lifts the share to 4.44%, with other current women MLAs including NC’s Sakina Masood Ittoo (a cabinet minister), Shamima Firdous (NC), and Shagun Parihar (BJP). Ittoo represents D H Pora in Kulgam, Firdous hails from Habbakadal, and Parihar is a first-time MLA from Kishtwar.
Devyani Rana’s Nagrota bypoll win creates a historic four-woman presence in the J&K assembly, the first time reaching that level of female representation. The assembly’s female share rose from 3.4% in 2008 and 2014, to 3.33% after delimitation widened the house to 90 seats in 2022, and now to 4.44% with Rana’s victory. Other sitting women MLAs include NC’s Sakina Masood Ittoo (also a cabinet minister), Shamima Firdous (NC), and BJP’s Shagun Parihar. Ittoo serves D H Pora in Kulgam, Firdous from Habbakadal, and Parihar from Kishtwar as a first-time MLA.
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Devyani Rana’s Nagrota bypoll victory introduces a new glass ceiling being broken: four elected women in J&K’s assembly for the first time. The historical share stood at 3.4% in 2008 and 2014, dipped to 3.33% after the 2022 delimitation, and now stands at 4.44% thanks to Rana’s win. The current cohort of elected women also includes NC’s Sakina Masood Ittoo (cabinet minister), Shamima Firdous (NC), and BJP’s Shagun Parihar. Ittoo represents D H Pora in Kulgam, Firdous represents Habbakadal in Srinagar, and Parihar represents Kishtwar.
