As the West Bengal assembly elections draw near, there is heightened scrutiny over the representation of women in political parties in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, one of India's most powerful leaders, heads the political landscape, yet questions arise about her party's commitment to gender parity in ticket allocation. Despite being at the forefront of governance, the record of major political parties in West Bengal shows a significant lag in effectively empowering women through candidacies, which raises concerns over inclusivity in the electoral process.

The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', a bill aimed at reserving 33% of electoral tickets for women, will not be implemented in the upcoming assembly elections as the bill will only come into effect after the 2027 census. This delay has sparked discussions about women's political participation, igniting new hopes for future election cycles. With a female chief minister leading the state, expectations are particularly high for political parties to make substantial changes toward gender balance in their candidate selection.

Despite the presence of influential female leaders, data from previous elections indicates that major parties have often awarded fewer tickets to women, suggesting entrenched gender biases in the political arena. As society evolves and the call for greater female representation becomes louder, it remains to be seen if West Bengal's political entities will respond positively and demonstrate a serious commitment to enhancing women's roles in politics through equitable ticket distribution for upcoming elections.