POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS (1951-2016): A CASE STUDY OF 57 NO. RANGIA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY OF ASSAM

Abstract: Participation in politics is one of the most important elements for sustaining of any political system, particularly the democratic political system. Political participation of women of Rangia Legislative Assembly Constituency of Kamrup district, Assam (India) is comparatively analyzed with male participation in this paper since 1951 Legislative Assembly Elections. Today, women participation in politics is very low and inactive in comparison to men’s participation. But, people’s active and willing participation, whether men or women despite being any gender is very crucial for the fulfillment of the democratic political system. Rangia Legislative Assembly Constituency bearing no 57 out of 126 Legislative Assembly Constituencies of Assam Legislative Assembly, India is chosen as the study area of this paper. On the basis of secondary data, the study discloses the political status of women of Rangia LAC in terms of voting, standing in an election, receiving MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1st Legislative Assembly Election,1951 to 14th Legislative Assembly Election,2016. There is a need of increasing political awareness and education to secure equal, active women’s political participation so thus all the segments of society can fully be represented in the politics of a state.