India’s ‘Womanifesto:’ How central are women’s rights to this year’s elections?

Monica Sarkar, for CNN
5 minute read
Updated 12:26 PM EDT, Fri May 16, 2014
India's next prime minister, Narendra Modi, greets supporters at his mother's home in Gandhinagar on Friday, May 16. Modi is the leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. After a five-week-long election, the BJP swept the ruling Indian National Congress from power. Official results were expected later Friday.
India's election: The largest in history —
India's next prime minister, Narendra Modi, greets supporters at his mother's home in Gandhinagar on Friday, May 16. Modi is the leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. After a five-week-long election, the BJP swept the ruling Indian National Congress from power. Official results were expected later Friday.
Saurabh Das/ap
BJP supporters dance and set off firecrackers at the news of election results in Allahabad on May 16.
India's election: The largest in history —
BJP supporters dance and set off firecrackers at the news of election results in Allahabad on May 16.
Rajesh Kumar Singh/ap
Supporters celebrate the opposition's victory in early preliminary results in Guwahati on May 16.
India's election: The largest in history —
Supporters celebrate the opposition's victory in early preliminary results in Guwahati on May 16.
Anupam Nath/ap
Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, addresses reporters May 16 outside party headquarters in New Delhi, with her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi at her side. Rahul Gandhi said he took responsibility for the defeat of the Congress party, which had dominated Indian politics since the nation's independence in 1947.
India's election: The largest in history —
Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, addresses reporters May 16 outside party headquarters in New Delhi, with her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi at her side. Rahul Gandhi said he took responsibility for the defeat of the Congress party, which had dominated Indian politics since the nation's independence in 1947.
Altaf Qadri/ap
Hiraben Modi, 90, blesses her son Narendra, who becomes India's next prime minister, at her home in Gandhinagar on May 16. Analysts predict his arrival in India's top office will bring a marked change in direction for the world's most populous democracy.
India's election: The largest in history —
Hiraben Modi, 90, blesses her son Narendra, who becomes India's next prime minister, at her home in Gandhinagar on May 16. Analysts predict his arrival in India's top office will bring a marked change in direction for the world's most populous democracy.
Ajit Solanki/ap
A family follows election results on TV in Guwahati on May 16.
India's election: The largest in history —
A family follows election results on TV in Guwahati on May 16.
Anupam Nath/ap
A Hindu holy man passes a line of people after voting at a polling station Monday, May 12, in Varanasi during the ninth and final phase of elections.
India's election: The largest in history —
A Hindu holy man passes a line of people after voting at a polling station Monday, May 12, in Varanasi during the ninth and final phase of elections.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
An Indian Muslim woman waits in line to vote at a polling station in Varanasi on May 12.
India's election: The largest in history —
An Indian Muslim woman waits in line to vote at a polling station in Varanasi on May 12.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Election workers prepare to seal an electronic voting machine after the final polls closed on May 12 in Varanasi.
India's election: The largest in history —
Election workers prepare to seal an electronic voting machine after the final polls closed on May 12 in Varanasi.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
The Indian National Congress party's Rahul Gandhi, center, waves to supporters at a rally in Varanasi on Saturday, May 10, the final day of campaigning in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/06/opinion/bergen-india-elections-11-things/">India's national election</a>. There are 814 million eligible voters in India, making this the largest election in world history.
India's election: The largest in history —
The Indian National Congress party's Rahul Gandhi, center, waves to supporters at a rally in Varanasi on Saturday, May 10, the final day of campaigning in India's national election. There are 814 million eligible voters in India, making this the largest election in world history.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
A family on a motorcycle passes Indian National Congress supporters in Varanasi on May 10.
India's election: The largest in history —
A family on a motorcycle passes Indian National Congress supporters in Varanasi on May 10.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
Former TV journalist Ashutosh and actor Jaaved Jaffrey, who are Aam Aadmi Party parliamentary candidates, help campaign for party leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi. Kejriwal established the party in response to the anti-corruption protests in 2011-12, and the party had a surprise showing in the 2013 local elections for the Delhi Assembly.
India's election: The largest in history —
Former TV journalist Ashutosh and actor Jaaved Jaffrey, who are Aam Aadmi Party parliamentary candidates, help campaign for party leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi. Kejriwal established the party in response to the anti-corruption protests in 2011-12, and the party had a surprise showing in the 2013 local elections for the Delhi Assembly.
Arun Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Trinamool Congress Chairwoman Mamata Banerjee, with microphone, campaigns for Jadavpur TMC candidate Sugata Bose, left, and South Kolkata candidate Subrata Bakshi, center, with Mithun Chakraborty on May 10 in Kolkata.
India's election: The largest in history —
Trinamool Congress Chairwoman Mamata Banerjee, with microphone, campaigns for Jadavpur TMC candidate Sugata Bose, left, and South Kolkata candidate Subrata Bakshi, center, with Mithun Chakraborty on May 10 in Kolkata.
Subhankar Chakraborty/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Election workers in Leh check voting machines on Tuesday, May 6.
India's election: The largest in history —
Election workers in Leh check voting machines on Tuesday, May 6.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Election officers rest between parked trucks before proceeding to their polling stations May 6 in Allahabad, India.
India's election: The largest in history —
Election officers rest between parked trucks before proceeding to their polling stations May 6 in Allahabad, India.
Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
A cow approaches electronic voting machines in Allahabad on May 6.
India's election: The largest in history —
A cow approaches electronic voting machines in Allahabad on May 6.
Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
Supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) walk with party flags during an election campaign in Kolkata on Sunday, May 4.
India's election: The largest in history —
Supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) walk with party flags during an election campaign in Kolkata on Sunday, May 4.
Bikas Das/AP
Women and children attend an election rally in Amethi, India, on Saturday, May 3.
India's election: The largest in history —
Women and children attend an election rally in Amethi, India, on Saturday, May 3.
Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
A police officer patrols during curfew in the Maisuma locality of Srinagar, India, on Friday, May 2.
India's election: The largest in history —
A police officer patrols during curfew in the Maisuma locality of Srinagar, India, on Friday, May 2.
TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images
A Kashmiri Muslim woman confronts Indian police after they arrested a youth during a protest in Srinagar on May 2.
India's election: The largest in history —
A Kashmiri Muslim woman confronts Indian police after they arrested a youth during a protest in Srinagar on May 2.
TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian soldier stands in the middle of an empty Srinagar street Wednesday, April 30, following calls by rebels and separatist politicians to boycott the parliamentary elections.
India's election: The largest in history —
An Indian soldier stands in the middle of an empty Srinagar street Wednesday, April 30, following calls by rebels and separatist politicians to boycott the parliamentary elections.
Bernat Armangue/AP
A soldier helps voters locate their polling station in the village of Sultanwind, near Amritsar, India, on April 30.
India's election: The largest in history —
A soldier helps voters locate their polling station in the village of Sultanwind, near Amritsar, India, on April 30.
RAMINDER PAL SINGH/EPA /LANDOV