S. Keerthana has created history as the first woman MLA from Sivakasi, a town famed for firecracker production. Her campaign drew buzz after she began speaking fluent Hindi to reach a broader audience, amid Tamil Nadu’s language politics. Previously a political consultant and a TVK C. Joseph Vijay admirer, she centred her push on safety, healthcare, and welfare for firecracker workers.
In the 126-member Assam Assembly, only seven women candidates won seats, matching the 2021 outcome. The ruling NDA has six women MLAs, while Congress manages just one. Despite women making up nearly half of the electorate, their representation in the legislature remains strikingly low, raising fresh questions about political participation and candidate selection.
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