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MAPUSA
In at least two panchayats, women candidates have outnumbered men and in some others they are either 50-50 or closely behind.
In the 11-member Calangute Panchayat, 23 women are in the fray as opposed to 22 men, who will battle it out in the June 11 polls.
Similarly, 15 women candidates have outnumbered men in Salvador-do-Mundo Panchayat, as 13 men have been left in the fray in the nine-member panchayat.
Significantly, the number of women candidates has gone up in wards reserved for women, as four wards have been reserved for women in Calangute, while three have been set aside for women in Salvador-do-Mundo.
But notably, many women have thrown their hats in the election ring from general wards dominated by men.
In Nadora and Nachinola panchayats, the ratio of women to men candidates is 50-50 with seven candidates in each category contesting from Nadora, while 15 each in Nachinola.
With eight women to nine men in Parra and 10 women to 13 men in Bastora, women candidates are expected to give men a run for their money in the panchayat elections. Similarly, 22 women contestants come close to 26 male candidates in Aldona.
Coincidentally, seven women candidates will contest from Ward 5 reserved for women in both Calangute as well as Salvador-do-Mundo panchayats.
Former deputy sarpanch of Salvador-do-Mundo has already been elected unopposed from Ward 3 reserved for women. However, the reservation of the ward has been challenged in the courts and the jury is still out on it.
Overall, the male domination continues in the political spectrum of panchayat polls, as 648 men will be contesting the election as opposed to 417 women from 279 wards in 33 panchayats in Bardez.
Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat has the highest number of aspirants with 64 candidates followed by Tivim (50), Aldona (48) and Calangute (45).
With 14 aspirants, the five-member Nadora Panchayat has the lowest number of candidates followed by seven-member panchayat of Parra (17), Sangolda and Pirna with 20 each. In another interesting statistics, Bardez will witness a keen one-to-one contest mostly amongst women candidates in the ensuing panchayat polls.
Straight fight will take place in 59 wards of which one-to-one contest between women candidates will be in 27 wards.
THE WOMEN THEY WANT TO BE
In the 11-member Calangute Panchayat, 23 women are in the fray as opposed to 22 men
Fifteen women candidates have outnumbered men in Salvador-do-Mundo Panchayat, as 13 men have been left in the fray in the nine-member panchayat
In Nadora and Nachinola panchayats, the ratio of women to men candidates is 50-50 with seven candidates in each category contesting from Nadora, while 15 each in Nachinola
