In the recent Bihar Assembly elections, women voters emerged as a decisive force, significantly contributing to the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) victory. The NDA secured a historic win, garnering a whopping 203 seats in the 243-seat assembly, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) showcasing its best performance since 2010. This election marked a turning point in Bihar's political landscape, with women voters actively shaping the outcome.
Across several districts, women outvoted men by a significant margin. In seven districts, women's voter turnout exceeded men's by 14 percentage points, and in ten other districts, the gap surpassed 10 percentage points. Supaul recorded the largest disparity, with 83.69% of women exercising their franchise compared to 62.98% of men. Overall, the women's voter turnout was 71.78%, substantially higher than the 62.98% turnout among men.
Several factors contributed to this surge in female voter participation and their support for the NDA. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's two-decade governance has cultivated a loyal female vote bank that transcends caste lines. His government's initiatives, such as transferring ₹10,000 to over 1.21 crore women (Jivika Didis) to encourage small businesses and promising an additional ₹2 lakh for successful ventures, resonated strongly with women.
Furthermore, Nitish Kumar's 2016 prohibition policy proved popular among women, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds who had suffered from alcohol-related domestic violence. The opposition Mahagathbandhan's hints at reviewing or lifting the prohibition further solidified women's support for the NDA.
The BJP also acknowledged the significant role of women voters, stating that their high turnout was a "historic transformation" and that they voted "decisively" in favor of the NDA for development and good governance. The party highlighted that since 2014, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pro-incumbency for good governance has become a new habit in Indian democracy, a trend unseen before.
The Election Commission's deployment of over 1.8 lakh Jeevika Didis, women volunteers who guided other women voters regarding booth locations and voting processes, significantly improved electoral participation among women and first-time young voters.
Beyond gender, the NDA also broadened its caste coalition, moving beyond traditional caste alignments. Historically, Bihar politics hinged on the Muslim-Yadav (MY) alliance, which benefited the RJD. However, in 2025, a new arithmetic emerged emphasizing women and Economically Backward Classes (EBC) groups, creating a 'ME' factor that substantially boosted NDA's vote share. The NDA consolidated the upper castes through BJP, while Nitish Kumar's JD(U) secured a strong base among Kurmis and EBCs, which constitute about 36% of Bihar's population.
The NDA's campaign focused on stability, development, and inclusivity, with the narrative of a 'double-engine government' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resonating powerfully with voters. This, combined with effective mobilization efforts and a meticulously crafted seat-sharing formula, contributed to the NDA's resounding success. The flawless seat-sharing arrangement saw the BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, demonstrating maturity within the NDA. Smaller allies like the LJP (Ram Vilas) contested 29 seats, while HAM(S) settled for six seats.
