WOMEN IN INDIA: LONG HISTORY OF POLITICAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000439 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM IN SUBJECT: WOMEN IN INDIA: LONG HISTORY OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP REF: NEW DELHI 394 NEW DELHI 00000439 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: Women have held high political office in India since the 1960's when Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. Today, her daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi is perhaps the most powerful person in India. But women without famous names - such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa - have scaled the heights of Indian politics as well. In fact, Mayawati maintains an outside chance of becoming Prime Minister in this year's national elections. Women have been politically successful in northern and southern India, and in the large national parties and on their own at both the state and national levels. They are fully integrated into Indian political mainstream. End Summary. Indira Gandhi Led the Way -------------- ¶2. (U) Though generally a patriarchal society, women have played leading roles at the highest levels of Indian politics for forty years, since Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in ¶1966. Currently, Sonia Gandhi (Indira's daughter-in-law), president of the Congress Party and Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, ranks as perhaps the most powerful politician in India. Forbes magazine called her the sixth most powerful woman in the world in 2007, and Time listed her among the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007 and 2008. ¶3. (U) Of course, as heirs to the Nehru/Gandhi dynasty, Indira and Sonia Gandhi had something of a head start. But India claims many female politicians who received no such advantage. One of the most talked about politicians in India now is Mayawati, the Chief Minister of India's largest state, Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati is a Dalit and her party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),derives most of its support from the low caste Dalit community. But as her ambitions have grown, she has reached out to other communities to broaden her base. The BSP, which she rules with an iron fist, appears likely to win a significant number of parliamentary seats in this year's national election. With the fractured nature of India's politics, Mayawati could play kingmaker in the new government's formation, or even become PM herself. While she would be India's second female PM, she would be the first female PM to come from the grass roots. Just as important - if not more so - Mayawati would be India's first Dalit PM. ¶4. (U) Several other states including Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu have elected female Chief Ministers as well. In the 1970's Nandini Satpathy became Chief Minister in Orissa, and also served in the Rajya Sabha. More recently, in 2008 Delhi elected the Congress Party's Sheila Dikshit to her third consecutive term, an impressive feat as anti-incumbency remains a powerful force in Indian politics. In Rajasthan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Vasundhara Raje won election as Chief Minister in 2004. Uma Bharati, also from the BJP, served as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2003-2004. Former Tamil film actress Jayalalithaa served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu twice as the leader of the regional party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Women Regional Party Leaders Will Wield Power in 2009 Elections -------------- ¶5. (U) As leaders of important regional parties, Mayawati and Jayalalitha along with Mamata Banerjee, leader of the West Bengal-based Trinamool Congress, will play crucial roles NEW DELHI 00000439 002 OF 002 forming the next coalition government. Though all three women have historical ties to either the Congress Party or the BJP, they remain "free agents," willing to partner with whichever party gives them the best deal. This gives them significant leverage to forward their individual agendas. Rahul or Priyanka: Only Competence and Charisma Matter -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) As Chairperson of the UPA, Sonia Gandhi remains the most powerful woman in India, although her bids to become PM in 1998 and 2004 were undone because of opposition based on her foreign-born status. However, her daughter Priyanka (Gandhi) Vadra faces no such obstacle. While the thirty-seven year old mother of two has never stood for office herself, she served as her mother's campaign manager in the successful 2004 national election. Many commentators believe that it is the more charismatic Priyanka, and not her brother Rahul, who will claim the mantle held by her father, grandmother and great-grandfather. When such speculation occurs, rarely is there a mention of the fact that she is a woman. The electability argument revolves around competence and charisma. Thus far, Priyanka has refused to speculate about a future in politics and maintains a relatively low profile, an almost impossible task given her near-royal status. Women in Power: Long History and Increasing Numbers -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Comment: India has a longer history of prominent female politicians than most countries. The current political landscape is filled with powerful women at both the state and national levels. In addition to the women highlighted above, women serve in the central and state cabinets, as leaders of the opposition in state assemblies, and as state heads within the larger political parties. Their numbers will likely increase as many states have implemented reservations for women at the panchayat (village council) level, often the starting point for aspiring politicians. Additionally, as women become a more independent voting block, their power will grow as parties reach out directly to women on issues they care about. Women have been active in politics and electorally successful in all parts of India both within the large national parties and on their own. They are fully integrated into the political mainstream, and it is no longer "unique" or "unprecedented" when they achieve success. End Comment. WHITE