Why Bihar’s woman voter is the real winner of 2025

NITISH KUMAR may have emerged as the star of the 2025 Assembly election in Bihar. But the real story of this election is the woman voter. She has again proven why she is the most fascinating story of evolution in contemporary Indian politics, and why today it isn't just her vote but also her voice at the centre of electoral and political discourse.

In Bihar, the woman voter this election shattered records, registering a turnout of 71.6%, an impressive 8.8 percentage points more than the 62.8% turnout among men. This marks the largest ever reverse gender gap in the state.

Women outnumbered men even in absolute terms this election — the first ever for the state. In a state steeped in patriarchy and smeared with caste dynamics, the woman voter has emerged as a cross-cutting, caste-neutral and emphatic constituency, carving out a story of political resilience and ambitions.

This isn't a phenomenon sudden to Bihar. It was with the first full term of Nitish Kumar that the shift began. In that sense, Bihar has been ahead of its times and certainly a case study for several other states. Bihar tells us what exactly women voters are looking for and why. All the chatter about the NDA winning this election thanks to the Rs 10,000 'bribe' to women voters is simplistic and patronising. It shows how we underestimate this electorate and reduce it to a greedy 'labharthi' (beneficiary).

There are two key questions — one, what drives women voters and why; and two, what does this mean going forward. Thanks to Nitish Kumar, Bihar offers valuable insights into both these points.

Women appreciate welfarism when it addresses gaps in their lives and when it helps improve their day-to-day struggles. They appreciate politicians who look towards empowering them. They build a relationship with leaders who address them.

Nitish presents the perfect case study. Soon after becoming CM, he came up with three marquee ideas — free bicycles for schoolgirls, 50% reservations for women in lower tiers of governance and government jobs. His fourth angle came a few years later — addressing their social concern through the liquor prohibition law. His 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana', as part of which he transferred Rs 10,000 to women, might seem like a pre-2025 poll cash transfer to 'bribe' women voters. But do women look at it like that? No. Women across states have used cash transfers to start small businesses, something that will earn them a livelihood, and dignity. Otherwise, why would they not choose Tejashwi Yadav, who promised Rs 30,000 to women.

The truth, however, is that women rank second to men in every identity — be it of caste, faith, ethnicity, region, demography or social status; that is what makes their gender — universally marginalised and disenfranchised — a common binding factor, thus turning them into a unique, powerful voting bloc. Bihar stands as a perfect example of that — with women cutting across caste voting for Nitish election after election, demolishing the barriers of caste in the region.

As women voters become more powerful, they also do so because they have fewer schisms within as compared to men. That, however, also means their aspirations will grow that much faster.

Political parties, therefore, have to think fast and hard to address the question of 'what next'. Blind cash transfers will stop cutting it soon, and women will want more targeted aid. Perhaps Nitish read that sign, and made sure he phrases this scheme as rozgar support, and not just pity cash alms.

The truth is that Bihar's woman voter is laughing all the way to the bank and Nitish Kumar all the way to the booth.