The date of assembly elections in Tamil Nadu is approaching. Voters here will cast their votes on April 23. It is expected that women voters will play an important role in creating the political environment in the state. Tamil Nadu is the state where female voters are more than male voters.
There are more than 2.89 crore women in the voter list of the state, which is 51 percent of the total voters. Their number is 12.21 lakh more than men. According to the Election Commission, there are a total of 5.67 crore voters in the state, of which 2.89 crore are women and 2.77 crore are men.
The gender gap has increased further in the last five years. In the 2021 assembly elections, the share of women among voters was 50.7 percent, while the share of men was 49.3 percent. At that time, the number of women was about 10.15 lakh more than men. After removing about 74 lakh ineligible names from the electoral roll, the total number of voters has reduced, but in terms of percentage, now the number of women is more, which has increased to 51.07 percent.
Depending on the district, the benefits for women are clearly visible. In Chennai, where there are a total of 28.3 lakh voters, there are 14.64 lakh women while 13.65 lakh are men. Tiruvallur has the highest number of voters at 31.57 lakh, out of which 16.12 lakh are female voters while 15.44 lakh are male.
In Erode, women outnumber men by 63,000, while in Coimbatore the difference is even greater. Where there are 13.95 lakh women while 13 lakh are men. Even in a small district like Nilgiri, the number of women voters is high. Where there are 2.85 lakh women as against 2.61 lakh men. A lot of difference is visible in the southern districts also. In Madurai there are 12.58 lakh women voters against 12.08 lakh men and in Thanjavur there are 10.04 lakh women voters against 9.47 lakh male voters.
Recognizing the influence of women in elections, political parties are targeting them through welfare schemes. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's party DMK has promised to give Rs 2,000 every month and Rs 8,000 annually to women through Elatharsi coupons.
Opposition AIADMK is also desperate to get women's votes. Apart from subsidies like free transport and other domestic benefits, it has promised Rs 10,000. Under PDS, free refrigerators will be distributed to the women beneficiaries of the village.
Actor Vijay's party TVK can also play an important role in this election. He has also promised to give Rs 2500 to women every month. Apart from this, free travel in bus and LPG cylinder have also been announced.
Apart from these schemes, women's safety is also emerging as an important election issue. Opposition parties have raised questions on the government and highlighted cases of crime against women. BJP had also attacked the Stalin government regarding this. She accused Stalin of failing to stop the increasing incidents of violence against women in the state.
BJP said that the completely incompetent, careless and insensitive DMK government under the leadership of MK Stalin can only be called the Nero of today's times. Just as Rome was burning and Nero was playing the flute, CM Stalin and DMK are busy making reels, while sexual assault and violence against women continues unabated in Tamil Nadu. Let us tell you that voting for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be held on 23 April. There are 234 seats in Tamil Nadu Assembly. The results will be declared on 4th May.
