Bihar Politics: The politics of Bihar is once again seen on the shoulders of women. When Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had done 2015-16 in 2020, women from all over the state were clapping on the streets. “Husband will no longer drink peace in the house”, with the hope that he appreciated Nitish’s move. When the election came in 2020, the women voted more than the men and the result was in front of the men. Or will they not clap this time?
When women became strength in 2020
Women created history in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections. For the first time, women voting percentage was more than men’s vote percentage 59.7% while 54.6% of men. These were not just figures. These were the foundation of the trust which were woken up by decisions like liquor ban. And this trust turned into power.
2025 new hope or old script?
A few months before the assembly elections, Nitish Kumar made a big announcement, women will get 35% horizontal reservation in government jobs. Now this reservation will be given to women living in Bihar only permanently. That is, married women coming from outside or daughters of migrant families will be deprived of this facility. The government claims that this step will strengthen the participation of women in jobs like Education Health Panchayat and Police Department. It is also being said that this decision is not just reservation but ‘way of employment’. But the real question is, will women understand it? Or will they dismiss this decision as another electoral gimmick?
The truth of the survey, with whom is the female vote with?
According to the recent Election Survey (Inkinsight), NDA is getting 54.7% support in women voters while the Grand Alliance is only 31.2%. This means that women are still leaning towards NDA. But this support is not permanent. Women are now affected by the results, not plans. They want reservation but along with the opportunities of employment guarantee training and security at workplaces. If this reservation remains only an electoral tactic, then this time women can also give the answer strong.
Increasing domination of women’s vote: 2020 to 2024
Year
Women voting (%)
Male voting (%)
2020
59.7%
54.6%
2024
59.45%
53%
It is clear from these figures that women of Bihar have now become the decisive power of elections. It is not a secret that the social fabric of Bihar is still affected by patriarchy, but in the last few years, there has been a tremendous bounce in the political awareness and stake of women. If women voters show more than 60% participation in 2025, then the mathematics of any party can change, especially when their priority is on ’employment and result’.
Truth, solution or cheating of reservation?
35% reservation is not just an announcement but an administrative challenge. Has the government really preparing to fill so many posts? Will women be able to enable women from panchayats to police recruitment? The women of Bihar are now talking about training and skill development. Nothing will be done just with reservation until women are afraid of the online form in the interview and fall behind in the digital world. That is, if the government does not add employment services training programs and local support centers with this reservation, then this decision will remain only as an election time show.
Will Nitish play Masterstroke again?
If Nitish Kumar believes that women will vote only with emotions, then perhaps they can miss this time. But if they understand that women are now aware of the advantages and rights, then they will have to give both hope and opportunity. Women now do not have a moral courage like ‘alcohol ban’ but ’employment’. They need a laptop job recruitment and maternity protection in safe travel college. If the Nitish government shows these things on the ground in the next few months, then the clap will be played and this time the vote will also be done.
Will women welcome or close the door?
Women are no longer crowded in Bihar politics. She has now become a voter block not just part of the rally in the saree but a government. In 2025, if Nitish’s reservation is not an ‘assurance’ but an effective plan, he may perhaps cross the boat of women’s vote.
