The Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal has fielded 55 women candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.
The number is 22 more than its arch-rival, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has fielded 33 women candidates.
The Centre has proposed increasing the number of seats in the lower House from 543 to up to 850 by revising Article 81 of the Constitution, as part of the effort to ensure 33% reservation for women in Parliament starting with the 2029 polls.
TMC has also fielded more Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates than other parties, with 78 SC and 17 ST candidates.
The party's focus on women voters remains sharp this year, with a hike in monthly monetary assistance for general category homemakers under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
The BJP, too, has shifted its focus to West Bengal's women voters this year, with a promise of ₹3,000 every month as assistance and free bus rides if they come to power.
