14 women in the fray for the second phase of polls in Karna

A total of 14 women candidates are in the fray in the 66 assembly constituencies that go to the polls in the second phase in Karnataka on May 16.
The BSP, has given the highest representation to women candidates compared to other parties with four of them being issued a ticket in the second phase, according to the findings of the Karnataka Election Watch, an endeavour of the Association for Democratic Reforms an NGO
The BJP, Congress, JDS and JDU have each given women two tickets to contest in the second phase of the polls.
The other parties have also fielded just two women candidates, said Trilochan Sastry, a professor at the IIMB, who is heading the team of the ADR.
Despite promises by major parties to give women fair representation the total percentage is less than five percent, a similar trend that was found during the first phase.
The women candidates contesting on the BJP ticket for the May 16 polls are Sujatha Patil and Mallika Prasada while Eramma alias Sunitha, Sandhya Santoshanvekar, Bassamma, Shashikala M were contesting on the BSP ticket.
The Congress has fielded Sanna Hanumakka and Geetha Nandini Gowda while the JDS has put up Meenakshamma Nandhish and Sharada Poorya Naik. Bhagirathi Nayakka and Manjula Devi will face the polls as representatitives of the JDU.
In the first phase of polls, 17 women candidates were fielded by the major parties.