Patna: Bihar achieved its highest voter turnout ever at 67 percent this election, with women surpassing men by a margin of nine percent, totaling approximately five lakh more female voters. This marks a historic moment as women have outnumbered men at polling stations for the first time. An analysis of 16 exit polls indicates that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to secure 154 out of 243 seats, thereby obtaining another term in office. Observers attribute this notable outcome primarily to the significant involvement of women voters and the Nitish Kumar government’s ongoing commitment to women-focused welfare programs. In 1962, women’s turnout in Bihar was 23 percent lower than that of men, but this trend has dramatically changed.
In the last three elections — 2010, 2015, and 2020 — women consistently voted in larger numbers. In 2020, they outvoted men in 167 of 243 constituencies, reflecting a lasting transformation in Bihar’s electoral patterns. The Lokniti-CSDS post-poll survey from 2020 revealed that 2.08 lakh more women supported the NDA compared to the Grand Alliance. Among the 2.08 crore women voters that year, 38 percent backed the NDA and 37 percent the Grand Alliance. The NDA achieved victories in 92 out of the 167 seats where women’s turnout exceeded that of men, with a success rate surpassing 55 percent.
In 37 of the 43 constituencies won by JD(U) and 55 of the 74 claimed by the BJP, women voters outnumbered men. Analysts note that women’s voting preferences often differ from men’s based on caste, with women showing a greater inclination towards welfare-oriented policies related to financial aid, education, and household welfare rather than traditional caste allegiances. Both the NDA and Grand Alliance centered their campaign manifestos around women’s welfare.
The Nitish Kumar administration has a record of providing ₹10,000 each to 1.21 crore women before the elections, offering schoolgirls bicycles and uniforms, ensuring 50 percent reservation in panchayats, enforcing prohibition laws to combat domestic violence, and granting 35 percent reservation for women in state jobs (limited to women from Bihar since July 2025). In August 2025, the government initiated the Women’s Employment Scheme, transferring the first ₹10,000 installment right before the elections. Other welfare initiatives directly benefiting women across various age groups were also implemented.
The Grand Alliance responded with a cash promise of ₹30,000 annually for every woman starting January 14, along with government employee status and a ₹30,000 monthly salary for Jeevika Didis, land ownership rights for women, increased pensions for widows and the elderly, and fee waivers or subsidies for girls pursuing medicine and engineering studies. Since late 2023, cash schemes for women have significantly influenced election results in nine out of ten states where they were introduced. In Madhya Pradesh, ₹11,000 was credited in six installments via the Ladli Behna Yojana before the elections, aiding the BJP in overcoming anti-incumbency.
In Maharashtra, CM Eknath Shinde’s Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana delivered ₹7,500 to 2.34 crore women in five tranches, contributing to Mahayuti’s decisive victory. In Jharkhand, Hemant Soren’s Maiyaan Samman Yojana provided ₹4,000 across four installments — the final one just prior to polling day — enhancing voter trust and ensuring his re-election. Experts concur that women have become a pivotal force in Bihar’s political landscape. Senior journalist Neerja Chaudhary remarked that Nitish Kumar’s initiatives for girls’ education since 2005 have empowered a generation of women who now influence family voting choices. Election analyst Amitabh Tiwari of Vote Vibe summarized the new political dynamic: “Implement welfare schemes, transfer money to women’s accounts, and secure votes.
Women and EBC voters are Nitish’s strongest supporters.” Aditi Narayan Paswan from Delhi University noted that gender has become a crucial factor in voting behavior. “In the past, women voted as per family directives. Now they make independent decisions, especially when welfare schemes directly benefit them,” she stated. Aviral Pandey from Patna University added, “Women’s trust in Nitish has strengthened over two decades. The pre-election ₹10,000 transfer further solidified that relationship.” Despite their increasing political importance, parties have nominated relatively few women candidates. The NDA has put forward 34 women (13 each from BJP and JD(U)), while the Grand Alliance has nominated 30 (24 from RJD, 5 from Congress).
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party allocated 25 tickets to women, representing about 10 percent of its total. Bihar’s 243-member assembly should ideally include 80 women MLAs once the 33 percent reservation provision is enacted. As Bihar’s remarkable female voter turnout transforms the political narrative, analysts suggest that the state may again serve as a model for women-led electoral changes, a trend increasingly observable across India’s political arena.
