INTRODUCTION Women constitute about half of the population of any country, but their involvement in politics is insignificant as compared to that of men. A democratic country cannot progress if the energies of half of its population are concentrated in the kitchen only. 1 To understand the status of women in society an examination of their political status is necessary. As political status is interlinked with socio-economic status, it has the capacity to influence the transformation of the socioeconomic system of the country. It has now been accepted that women's right to vote and occupy positions in society is fundamental to women's status.
