BHOPAL: Former Mayor of Bhopal, Krishna Gaur has become the first woman law-maker from the city.Krishna defeated her nearest rival and Congress candidate Girish Sharma by nearly 50,000 votes. Gaur maintained her lead against her rival on a day that saw a seesaw battle between the BJP and Congress as the results from different areas from the state began to trickle in. Daughter-in-law former chief minister of the state Babulal Gaur, she fought election from Govindpura constituency from where her father-in-law won ten assembly elections in a row.
Krishna who was surrounded by his party workers and well-wishers at the lawns of her bungalow, told Free Press, “Definitely, it is a big achievement for me. It is not easy for to get such a massive victory in adverse condition. I think it was possible because of love and trust of people.” “I have tried to give affection to people. I respect everyone that visits my house and earn their trust. Ye pyar aur vishwas hi hai jo humein janta ke beech lekar aaya hai (People’s love and affection have brought me back to serve them…). And truly speaking, they affection has turned into votes,” she said.
She further said, “All credit goes to voters and party workers. It is the party workers’ victory and not mine. Also, I got blessings of women, because our party works for them.” On being asked about her plans, she said, “Now, we have to sit in opposition. So, if the new government works for welfare for women, we will appreciate.
But if we find anything wrong, we must firmly raise our voice.” “We will definitely work for women of all class. We will try to empower them financially. I always think that women should be financially strong because it builds their self confidence. So, women empowerment be my top priority,” the former mayor added. Of the seven assembly constituencies in Bhopal – Govindpura, Berasia, Bhopal-Uttar, Huzur, Bhopal•Dakshin-Paschim, Narela and Bhopal Madhya the BJP gave tickets to two women candidates. They are Krishna Gaur from Govindpura• and Fatima Rasool Siddiqui from Bhopal North.
The Congress gave tickets• to Jayshree Haikaran from Berasia.• All the three candidates contested the assembly elections for the first time. Fatima•Rasool Siddiqui and Jayshree Haikaran have lost the• elections. Sitting Congress MLA Arif Aqueel•defeated Fatima by a margin of• 34,957votes. Similarly, Jayshree Harikaran•was• trounced by• the BJP candidate Vishnu Khatri by 13,779 votes.•
BJP Showed faith in 31 women, Congress 22
For the 230-member MP House, the Congress gave tickets to only 22 women and the BJP fielded 31. The total number of women candidates fielded by different political parties was 250. In the last three assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013, both the BJP and the Congress have given tickets to just 10 to 12% women candidates. In 2013, the BJP fielded only 28 women as against 202 men and the Congress gave tickets to only 23 women. In the present state assembly, there are 33 women members including the nominated one.
