Women Voters: The Decisive Force Behind NDA's Electoral Success in Bihar

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has implemented numerous welfare schemes targeting women across Bihar.

Which political alliance will capture women's support in the upcoming 2025 Bihar elections? The answer will emerge on November 14 when results are announced. However, one fact remains evident: every political party is actively courting women voters, particularly the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which considers their backing crucial for electoral success.

One might question why women voters specifically are viewed as essential when men also support the NDA. The reasoning becomes clear through recent political developments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently instructed women BJP polling booth workers, "Don't call me sir, call me bhaiya," sending an unmistakable message about the vital importance of female voters to the NDA's re-election strategy.

Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari notes, "Women's votes can again be the deciding factor." Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's numerous women-focused welfare initiatives further highlight this demographic's growing electoral significance in Bihar's political landscape.

Both the BJP and JD(U) recognize women and youth as pivotal voter groups in this election cycle. The Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme has deposited Rs 10,000 directly into 1.25 crore women's bank accounts.

Households now receive 125 units of electricity at no cost, while social security pensions have increased substantially from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, benefiting 11.2 million families across the state.

Furthermore, the implementation of 35% reservation for women in police recruitment and 50% reservation in panchayats and local governance has positioned women at the center of decision-making processes. Low-interest loans for Jeevika Didis, enhanced allowances for ASHA and Mamata workers, and prioritization in employment schemes have collectively strengthened women's connection to the NDA.

The NDA's strategic focus on women voters is supported by compelling electoral data. During the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the alliance secured 60.5% of seats in constituencies where women voters outnumbered men.

Out of Bihar's 243 total seats, 119 constituencies had female voter majorities. The NDA won 72 of these seats (60.5%), while the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) secured only 42 seats (35.3%) in these female-dominated constituencies.

Analyzing further, among those 72 NDA victories, the BJP claimed 38 seats while JD(U) won 29, indicating the BJP captured approximately 50% of constituencies where women voters predominated, with JD(U) securing roughly 40%.

This advantage disappears in male-dominated constituencies. In the 124 seats where men outnumbered women, the NDA won just 53 seats (42.7%) compared to the MGB's 68 seats (54.8%).

Within the NDA coalition, the BJP's success rate in these male-majority areas was approximately 68%, whereas JD(U) managed only 26.3%, demonstrating that JD(U) performs significantly better in regions with higher female voter participation.

Notably, Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM also found success primarily in female-majority areas. Of the five seats AIMIM secured in 2020, four were in constituencies where women voters exceeded men by over 16,000 votes.

The Mahagathbandhan coalition, comprising RJD, Congress, Left parties and smaller allies, performed more effectively in areas with higher male voter turnout. While the MGB won 42 female-majority seats (RJD 29, Congress 6), it secured 68 seats in male-majority regions, compared to the NDA's 53.

Overall, the RJD claimed 46 and Congress took 13 of those male-dominated constituencies.

In 38 constituencies during the 2020 elections, the number of female voters exceeded the winning margin. The NDA secured 23 of these seats while the MGB won 13, suggesting women's turnout directly influenced final results in the NDA's favor.

Significantly, the NDA's overall advantage over the MGB in 2020 was merely 15 seats (NDA won 125 versus MGB's 110 seats).

Bihar's political framework has traditionally been defined by complex caste dynamics, including General, OBCs (Other Backward Classes), EBCs (Economically Backward Classes), SCs (Scheduled Castes), and STs (Scheduled Tribes). However, women are now emerging as a distinct political constituency that transcends traditional caste boundaries.

The NDA's emphasis on cash incentives, welfare benefits, and empowerment programs has cultivated a loyal support base among women voters, a strategy that previously helped the BJP secure victories in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Delhi. The party aims to replicate this successful approach in upcoming Bihar elections.