Goa, Nov. 14 -- Devyani Rana's Nagrota win marks a new milestone for Jammu and Kashmir, pushing the assembly's female representation to four for the first time. Previously, women MLAs accounted for 3.4% in 2008 and 2014, and 3.33% after the 2022 delimitation increased seats to 90. Rana's victory lifts the share to 4.44%, with other current women MLAs including NC's Sakina Masood Ittoo (a cabinet minister), Shamima Firdous (NC), and Shagun Parihar (BJP). Ittoo represents D H Pora in Kulgam, Firdous hails from Habbakadal, and Parihar is a first-time MLA from Kishtwar.

Devyani Rana's Nagrota bypoll win creates a historic four-woman presence in the J&K assembly, the first time reaching that level of female representation. The assembly's fema...