Female candidates secure 32 councillor seats in RMC

Ranchi: Women candidates emerged as the defining force in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) elections, with the results announced on Friday signalling a decisive shift in local politics. Of the 53 wards, 25 were reserved for women, but female nominees went on to win 32 seats of councillors.At the helm of the wave is BJP-backed Roshni Khalkho, who won the mayoral post with 1,57,669 votes. She defeated her closest rival, Congress-supported Rama Khalkho, who polled 1,43,306 votes, registering a comfortable margin of over 14,000 votes. "This victory belongs to every woman who believes in leadership and accountability. I will prioritise transparent governance, sanitation reforms and better civic amenities," Roshni said after her win. The youngest among the elected representatives is 25-year-old Aliya Naz from ward 11. A graduate in human rights from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, she emphasised youth-driven governance. "Our city needs fresh thinking. I want to introduce structured ward-level consultations, improve street lighting for women's safety and ensure that civic services reach slum clusters equally. Development must be inclusive, not selective," she said. At 61, Suchita Rani Rai from ward 40 emerged as the oldest winner. She framed her victory as part of a larger movement. "Women stepping into leadership roles shows that society is ready to trust our capability. Empowerment is not just about contesting elections; it is about shaping policies. I will prioritise self-help groups, sanitation drives and community health awareness so that women at the grassroots feel represented," she said. Other notable winners included 60-year-old Asha Gupta (ward 18), who stressed improving road connectivity and drinking water supply; 55-year-old Nilam Choudhary (ward 41); Shashi Singh (ward 43); 41-year-old Farha Naaz, who polled 7,385 votes and pledged better sanitation infrastructure; 53-year-old Sheela Devi (ward 39), who spoke about strengthening ward-level monitoring; and 55-year-old Basanti Lakra (ward 3), who highlighted the need for improved waste collection and primary health services.