More women in the fray, but Tamil Nadu polls remain overwhelmingly male

The number of women contesting Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu has increased significantly over the past five decades, rising from 11 candidates in 1967 to 443 in 2026. However, despite this growth, women still represent a small percentage of the total candidates (around 11%). CPI(M) Central Committee Member U. Vasuki believes that increasing women's representation requires a legal mandate and quotas to ensure sustained progress beyond tokenism. DMK leader Thamizhachi Thangapandian highlights efforts within the party to increase women's participation, citing the presence of over 1,400 women councillors as an example. Independent researcher Akshi Chawla argues that a nationwide quota for women in legislatures would significantly impact political representation and empower women candidates.