Women political participation is one of the important issues in Indian politics and concern of intelligentsia. It has been more than seven decades of independence still there is a quite diminutive impact on women’s active participation in politics. Participation is a collective process in which an individual participates in multiple processes and institution. In present scenario important processes related to the political participation are: voting in different elections, contest the election, active participation in election campaigns, membership and holding party positions, higher level of participation includes: holding position in formal power system in addition participation in Dharanas and protest movements are also variables of political participation. Institutional participation according to the ‘group theory’ participation in those groups which affects the political decision -making is also part of political participation. Hence in the rural area participation in Mahila Mandals and Self-Help Groups also part of political participation. Political participation means not only using the right to vote, but also co-decision-making and co-policy-making at all levels of governance in the State. In this regard the reform of reservation under 73rd amendment act 1992 has been landmark initiative in the field of broadening the horizons of democracy in India. PRIs are considered as the important pillar of the democracy through which people at the grassroots level can develop themselves as effective citizens and groomed as leaders in the country. Since the enactment of 73rd Amendment, it is perceived that space in local bodies would give rural women space for the political participation. The journey of last twenty -five years indicates mixed trends while women leadership numerically increased in PRIs, voter turnout in different elections enhanced, women participation in informal activities such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Mahila Mandals (Women Groups) changed the women attitude in rural areas. She realised her strengths and became more confident. But on the other side women participation as decision makers in the State and National politics is not satisfactory. After twenty -five years women in the state Assemblies and Parliament is seen rare. The present paper is an effort to look in to the issue why there is wide gap in the participation in formal and informal institutions? Why women think that the higher political institution are beyondt their reach? Why the male folk is not able to digest her equal political share? Hypothesis is legal procedural dimension needs back up from different stake holders. For this purpose, the sample has been taken from Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the participation and gaps through secondary sources.