Top women politicians of India
The history of women's participation in politics in India dates back to the pre-independence era when women like Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay played an important role in the freedom struggle. After independence, women were given the right to vote and contest elections. The first general election in 1952 had only 22 women out of 489 elected members in the Lok Sabha. Since, the number of women in politics has gradually increased.
Today, women are the part of about 14% of the Lok Sabha and 24% of the Rajya Sabha. Women have also held various key positions in the government, including the office of the Prime Minister. India's first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, served as the country's leader for nearly 16 years, making her the longest-serving prime minister in India's history. His daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi, has also played an important role in Indian politics, serving as president of the Indian National Congress party for almost two decades.
Despite these achievements, women in Indian politics still face many challenges. Women politicians are often subjected to sexist remarks and are not taken seriously.
Here is a list of some of the top women politicians who have made a significant impact on Indian politics:
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi is one of the most prominent and influential women politicians in the history of India. He served as the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984. He implemented several significant reforms, such as the nationalization of banks and the abolition of banks. One of India's most influential leaders Indira Gandhi was the first woman to serve as the country's prime minister. She abolished the privy purses of Indian princes and initiated the Green Revolution, which transformed India from a food-importing nation to a food-exporting nation.
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Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is the wife of the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. She is also the President of the Indian National Congress party. He has been an active politician for over two decades and has served as the chairman of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which led the government in India from 2004 to 2014. Sonia Gandhi started her political career in the year 1998. His leadership helped revive the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi is known to focus on social welfare programs and schemes. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was passed in the year 2005. Sonia Gandhi's political career has been controversial. He has been accused of being an outsider because of his foreign origins.
Sushma Swaraj
Sushma Swaraj was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is Minister of External Affairs of India. She became the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold this post. Sushma Swaraj was known for tireless efforts to help Indian citizens living abroad. As External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj played a significant role in shaping India's foreign policy and improving its relations with other countries. She was known for her effective diplomacy, to connected with people from different cultures, and her compassion for Indian citizens living abroad. One of the most notable achievements of Sushma Swaraj as External Affairs Minister was the launch of the "MADAD" portal. It helped Indian citizens to lodge their complaints online.
Mayawati
Mayawati is the founder and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a political party representing the interests of Dalits (formerly known as "untouchables") and other marginalized communities in India. He served four times as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.
Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee is the current Chief Minister of West Bengal. She is the founder of All India Trinamool Congress political party. She is the first woman to reach this position in West Bengal. Banerjee is known for her fiery speeches and commitment to the welfare of the people of her state. She has implemented several important social welfare programs, such as Kanyashree, that works to prevent child marriage.
Nirmala sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman is a prominent Indian politician. She is currently serving as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India. She is the first woman to hold this position. She became finance minister when the Indian economy was facing several challenges including slowing growth, rising inflation and a liquidity crunch in the banking sector. She announced several measures in the 2021 budget aimed at improving healthcare, infrastructure and education.
Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress. She is the daughter of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and sister of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi officially entered politics in 2019 when she was appointed as the general secretary of the Congress party in charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka Gandhi is active in campaigning for the Congress party in various state elections, including the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She organized roadshows and public meetings in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Harsimrat Kaur Badal is a prominent Indian politician. She was a former Union Cabinet Minister. She belongs to the influential Badal family of Punjab. Her father-in-law Parkash Singh Badal has served as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Her husband Sukhbir Singh Badal is a prominent politician and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. She was the Minister of Food Processing Industries in the central government from 2014 to 2020. As the Minister of Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal played a significant role in promoting the food processing industries. She launched several schemes to increase investment in this sector and employment in rural areas.
Mehbooba Mufti
Mehbooba Mufti is a prominent Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. She is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His family has been a part of politics for several generations. In 2016, Mehbooba Mufti became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. During her tenure as chief minister, she faced several challenges, including unrest in the Kashmir Valley following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. She has been criticised several times over the matter, while others have praised his efforts to restore normalcy in the region.