Men still pull the strings in BBMP

Though women outnumber men in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council, it's their husbands, brothers or fathers who call the shots.

Of the 198 elected members, 101 are women. But that is just on record.

When DH tried to contact women corporators, most of the calls were answered by their husbands. When the husbands were asked to hand over the phone to the corporator, most of them were reluctant.

Former mayor N Shanthakumari says that woman councillors have earned their position by winning votes. They should overcome patriarchal pressures.

She also said that women corporators have to come out and engage with people, take decisions and directly deal with senior authorities and the media.

Senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said the perception of political parties should also change holistically at a broader level.

"Often, the party gives ticket looking at the family background of women instead of their strengths and political acumen. It is easy for a woman to get a ticket if her father or her husband is in politics. But if political parties recognise woman just on her merit, there is nothing like it," Shobha added.

However, some still believe that this is a stepping stone and a transition period.

"It is wonderful to see a majority of women in the BBMP. But they are absolutely under represented. They have to get a foothold," said Srinivas Alavilli of Citizens for Bengaluru.

Former mayor G Padmavathi said women should realise their potential.

"Today women are in many sectors and such tribe should only increase because they have tremendous potential and they are not less than anybody," she said.