AAP Fields 145 Women In MCD Elections

The Aam Aadmi Party had earned a bad reputation for itself in the 2015 elections for not having women in leadership positions. Some of the party's members were also in the news for allegedly misbehaving with women. AAP, however, seems to have redeemed itself by roping in 145 women candidates for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections.

The coveted list of women candidates contesting elections includes Promila Gupta, member of Delhi Women's Commission, and student leader Swati Sachdeva, among others.

A senior AAP functionary said, "After delimitation, 136 seats out of 272 in east, north and south MCD combined are already reserved for women. But we have given tickets to women in at least seven to eight general wards as well. We have strong women nominees who can win us seats."

Some well-known names

Juhi Khan, a political and social activist, is fighting from Sarita Vihar. She is a known figure in the area because she stopped demolition of hutments there.

Promila Gupta, a well-known councillor with Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has aided chief Swati Maliwal in rescuing minors from brothels on GB Road. She will be fighting from Timarpur (12 N) ward. "I have been fighting for women for over 10 years. I want to take this to the next level and fight for more citizens," she told TOI.

Read also: Dalai Lama aspires to see more women in leadership

Swati Sachdeva, a graduate from Hansraj College, will fight from Model Town. She told India Today, "I will first ensure that Model Town is cow-dung free. In spite of being one of the most posh colonies in north Delhi, it is stinking of cow-dung all the time."

The party believes that women are more transparent and accountable as leaders. As a gift to Delhi's women on International Women's Day, the party had also reduced taxes on sanitary napkins. It is good to see political leaders giving some serious thought to making their panel more diverse.

Read Also: AAP Govt Triples DCW'S budget To Rs.20 Crore

Charvi Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV