The voting pattern of women voters is changing in the country. Women are not only keeping pace with men, but are also seen ahead in voting. The total voting in Bihar Assembly elections was 66.91 percent, in which women cast 71.06 percent votes, while men cast 62.8 percent. As a result, women voted 8.26 percent more than men. In politics, voters are divided into different vote banks on the basis of caste, religion, age and profession. Political parties see women as one such vote bank, as there has been a significant change in their voting pattern.
Changing voting pattern of women in the country
A change is visible in the voting pattern of women not only in Bihar elections, but also in Lok Sabha elections and other states. Women are not only voting more than men, but are also voting for the candidates of their choice. Thus, women now have the power to make or break political power. Women voters are becoming the pivot of power. In the last two Lok Sabha elections, the voting percentage of women has increased compared to men and in Bihar, women are continuously voting more than men. In the 2020 elections, Prime Minister Modi had called women voters as silent voters and credited them for the NDA’s victory. It remains to be seen which way the political inclination of women goes this time.
Women voted more than men in Bihar
This time elections in Bihar were held in two phases. A total of 65.08 percent voting took place in the first phase, of which men voted 61.56 percent and women voted 69.04 percent. Voting was 68.74 percent in the second phase, of which men voted 64.1 percent and women 74 percent. A total of 66.91 percent voting took place in both the phases, of which men voted 62.8 percent and women voted 71.06 percent. As a result, the voting percentage of women was 8.26 percent higher than that of men. However, these figures are not final and may increase when postal ballots are included.
Understand the voting pattern of women in Bihar
This is not the first time that women have voted more than men in Bihar, but this is the fourth time that this pattern has been seen. In the 2020 assembly elections, the number of women was more than that of men. Men voted 54.6 percent and women 59.7 percent.
In the 2015 assembly elections, the voter turnout was 51.1 percent for men and 60.4 percent for women. In the 2010 elections, 53 percent of men voted, while women’s voting percentage was 54.5 percent. Thus, it has been observed that women voters hold the power to make or break the government in Bihar.
Women voters become Nitish’s political strength
In the 2020 elections, the NDA government was able to return to power only on the strength of women voters. The Nitish Kumar-led alliance is reaping political benefits from the heavy participation of women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the BJP’s victory in Bihar in 2020 to the silent voters of the BJP and said that these silent voters are none other than women. Nitish Kumar continues to remain in power in Bihar on the strength of women’s votes.
After coming to power in Bihar, Nitish Kumar established more than 10 lakh women self-help groups, with a combined membership of about 1.32 crore. Moreover, Nitish’s initiative to give reservation to women in panchayats in 2006 slowly but surely created a stir in the patriarchal, backward areas of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar provided free uniforms, books and bicycles to school girls. Recruitment of women in government jobs has increased in Bihar. Nitish Kumar implemented liquor ban in Bihar only on the request of women. Thus, Nitish has taken important political steps to woo women. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tried to keep them under control in this election by taking out Mahila Samvad Yatra, while Prime Minister Modi made many promises.
Special attention has been given to women voters in Bihar
Women constitute almost half of the population in Bihar and they play an important role in forming the government. Women voters have played an important role in Nitish Kumar remaining in power. Both the NDA and the grand alliance have paid special attention to women’s votes and have promised several schemes to woo them. Even before the elections, NDA’s Nitish Kumar government had deposited the first installment of ₹10,000 each in the accounts of 1.21 crore women under the Mahila Rojgar Yojana. The grand alliance has promised to give ₹30,000 annually to women. Political analysts believe that the promises made by the NDA and the Grand Alliance have played an important role in the increase in women voting percentage this time. Migrant voters including women coming for Chhath Puja and Chhath Puja also played an important role in women voting in this election.
Voting pattern of women in Lok Sabha elections
Since the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre, the focus has been on women voters. There are many schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, toilet construction, pucca houses, free ration and financial assistance to women which directly benefit women. Even in the last three Lok Sabha elections, women voters have shown confidence in Prime Minister Modi and his many schemes. Due to the political power of silent voters, BJP has been in power from the Center to more than half the states of the country.
In the last two Lok Sabha elections, the voting percentage of women has increased compared to men. According to Election Commission data, the percentage of women among the total voters increased from 48.09 percent in 2019 to 48.62 percent in 2024. If we look at the voting pattern in the 2019 elections, 67.18 percent women voted, while 67.01 percent men voted. Thus, women voted one percent more than men. If we look at the voting pattern of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the percentage of female voters was 65.78 percent, while male voters voted at 65.55 percent.
This was the second time since independence that women voters voted more than men. For the first time in 2019, the number of women outnumbered men, and the 2024 elections will be held for the second time. It is clear that women are not only voting more than men, but are also voting for their favorite candidates. Women, who were once silent, have now become power-savvy voters.
Women’s votes have decided the power of many states
The importance of women’s votes can be understood from the fact that before the elections in Madhya Pradesh, six installments of Ladli Brahmin Yojana were deposited in the accounts of women, due to which BJP got a huge victory. Similarly, in Haryana elections also, BJP made the same promise to women and was successful. Earlier, in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan also, this strategy of BJP had proved effective in wooing women.
Understanding the political importance of women’s votes, the Hemant Soren-led grand alliance government in Jharkhand transferred three installments of the Maiyan Yojana to the bank accounts of women in the state, leading to victory for the Hemant government. Arvind Kejriwal has been doing the same work in Delhi since 2013, and has formed the government many times with the help of this. In the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, everyone from BJP to Kejriwal made promises, but only BJP benefited.
Congress formed the government in Karnataka on the strength of women’s votes and also won in Himachal. Similarly, Mamata Banerjee has retained power in West Bengal on the strength of women’s votes. Now it remains to be seen whether women voters in Bihar can become a political shield for Nitish Kumar and save his government.
