Kerala Poll Ticket Row: Shashi Tharoor Flags Gender Gap, Backs Shama Mohammed As Congress Faces Heat

A political row has erupted over gender representation in Kerala after Congress leader Shashi Tharoor flagged concerns over the low number of women candidates in the party's poll list. With just 9 out of 92 tickets allotted to women, voices within the party, including Shama Mohamed, have called for greater inclusion and urged Rahul Gandhi to intervene. While Tharoor backed the need for women's reservation, he maintained that ticket distribution was guided by "winnability." The BJP has seized on the issue, citing its push for 33% reservation and accusing Congress of failing to ensure adequate representation.