7,210 Kudumbashree women race to victory in local body polls

More than 7,200 Kudumbashree women crossed the finishing line to emerge victorious in the recent local body elections in Kerala.

Of the 17,082 members from the women empowerment and poverty eradication network who contested the elections this time, 7,210 emerged victorious, translating to over 42% success rate. This is a testament to why time and again political parties pick candidates with the best chances of victory in the polls from the vast Kudumbashree pool.

In the 2020 elections, 7,058 Kudumbashree women were voted to power.

District-wise winners

This time, Kozhikode had the highest number of winners—709. Malappuram was close behind with 697 victorious candidates. Four other districts sent more than 600 Kudumbashree women to the local bodies—Alappuzha (643), Kannur (621), Palakkad (635), and Thrissur (652).

The least number of successful Kudumbashree women was in Pathanamthitta (272). Wayanad had four more at 276.

Among the biggest winners were Kudumbashree neighbourhood group (NHG) members—5,436. The other successful candidates include Kudumbashree community development society (CDS) chairpersons (111), vice-chairpersons (67), CDS members (724), and area development society (ADS) executive members (791). As many as 107 auxiliary group members who represent the young women of Kudumbashree in the 18-40 age group also registered wins.

The biggest chunk of the victorious Kudumbashree women was elected to grama panchayats—5,836. As many as 487 Kudumbashree women were elected to block panchayats, 88 to district panchayats, 757 to municipalities, and 45 to Corporations.

Thirteen of the 35 Kudumbashree women candidates under the Attappady Special Project also tasted success. Twelve of them were NHG members and one was a CDS member. Ten were elected to grama panchayats and three to block panchayats.

In the 2015 elections, 52% of the Kudumbashree women who contested made it to local bodies.