Women in Bihar, who have consistently outvoted men at the ballot box since 2010, are once again at the centre of the stateโs electoral battle. What began with Chief Minister Nitish Kumarโs prohibition policy has now evolved into a contest of promises, cash transfers, and emotive appeals aimed at a constituency that cuts across caste and class.
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The numbers tell their own story. In successive Assembly elections, women have not only turned out in greater numbers than men but have also shaped political outcomes. Kumarโs long tenure in power was in no small measure sustained by women voters, many of whom credited his alcohol ban with curbing domestic abuse and financial ruin in their households.
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With another election looming, the battle for this crucial bloc has intensified. The state governmentโs Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, offering Rs 10,000 to eligible women, is being rolled out just weeks before the model code of conduct comes into force. The Opposition, led by Tejashwi Yadavโs RJD, has countered with its own bouquet of pledges, from subsidised LPG cylinders to monthly allowances and education-linked benefits for girls.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has added a sharper emotional edge to the contest. Addressing women via video conference, he recalled alleged abuses hurled at his late mother from an Opposition platform. โModi might forgive you once, but Bihar will never tolerate insult to a mother,โ he said, linking personal anguish to collective sentiment in a bid to consolidate womenโs support for the NDA.
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The battle, however, is not only about money and emotion. The launch of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, which channels credit through self-help groups, reflects a different strategy, building on the Nitish-era Jeevika programme that has drawn 1.4 crore women into collective entrepreneurship and social action. Unlike direct transfers, Jeevika emphasises partnership and long-term empowerment, embedding women in decision-making processes at the village level.
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This layered approach underscores a critical shift in Indian politics. Where caste equations once dominated Biharโs polls, women voters now represent a cross-cutting force. They have repeatedly defied predictions, at times even voting against their householdsโ caste loyalties. For parties, therefore, women are both the most predictable and the most unpredictable bloc, disciplined in turnout, yet inscrutable in choice.
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Cash benefits, welfare schemes, and emotional appeals may sway sections, but whether these translate into votes depends on whether women see themselves merely as beneficiaries or as stakeholders in shaping the stateโs future.