Hazaribag Elections 2026: Will Women Candidates Lead the Charge After Reservation?

Hazaribag: Women’s participation has emerged as a defining feature of the Hazaribag municipal corporation elections 2026, with the impact of ward reservation visible on the ground.Out of the total 36 wards in the Hazaribag municipal area, 17 were reserved for women. Two councillors were elected unopposed as none filed nominations against them, so 34 wards went to polls. A total of 50 women candidates have filed their nominations across 34 wards.Most of the women candidates entering the fray are educated, socially aware and actively engaged in community issues. Many contested independently with clearly articulated development agendas for their respective wards.

Several first-time contestants said the political landscape was changing and leadership roles were no longer confined to men.Ward 22 candidate Mitali Rashmi Pradhan (40), a postgraduate in human resource management from an institute of Pune, termed the reservation policy a progressive and farsighted step. “Women are no longer limited to the household. This opportunity allows us to prove our capabilities in public leadership,” she said, adding that she would work relentlessly for the ward’s development, if elected.

Across wards, women candidates identified sanitation, drinking water, road connectivity, education, and women’s safety as their key priorities.Campaigning is expected to intensify as the nomination process, scrutiny, withdrawal of names and allotment of symbol ended on Saturday.Polling is scheduled on February 23, while counting of votes and declaration of results were scheduled for February 27.Soni Kshetri Krishna, who is a postgraduate, said, “Women are now making their presence felt in all sectors and civil election is one of them.”Poll observers said overall, the Hazaribag civic polls 2026 were being seen as a strong reflection of women’s empowerment at the grassroots level, with women not only participating, but confidently stepping into leadership roles.