Thiruvananthapuram, March 20 Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed expressed dissatisfaction on Friday over the low representation of women in the party's candidate list for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.
In a Facebook post, the AICC leader said it was disappointing that very few women have been given tickets.
“Rejected, but not defeated. I respectfully urge my leader, Rahul Gandhi ji, whom I admire and respect deeply, to support Congress women in Kerala,” she said.
According to Mohamed, out of the 92 seats the Congress is contesting, only nine have been allotted to women.
She also pointed out that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, only one woman was given a ticket out of 16 seats.
“If capable women are not being recognised, the situation is indeed very poor. It is deeply disappointing,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kochi Corporation councillor Deepthi Mary Varghese, who had expected a ticket, told reporters that she was not disappointed by the party's decision not to give her a ticket.
“Candidate selection is always a consultative process within the party. Many may aspire to contest, but not everyone can be given a ticket. There is nothing unusual in that,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the UDF would fight the election unitedly and emerge victorious.
Varghese said she had no differences with the party leadership over not being considered.
“I am a member of the KPCC campaign committee and will actively participate in election work across Kerala, especially in the 14 constituencies in Ernakulam district,” she said.
She added that she had printed posters and notices in preparation for a possible candidature.
“The same direction was given to others who were under consideration,” she said.
Varghese said winnability remains a key factor in candidate selection.
