Bihar Election 2025: 'Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai'! Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) Powers to 70-mark

Nitish Kumar's JD(U) powered the NDA past 160-mark, widening its lead over the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in the initial counting of votes for the Bihar assembly elections. Both the BJP and JD(U) have

crossed the 70-mark. Junior partners Chirag Paswan's LJP (ahead in 14 seats), former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (ahead in 3 seats) and Upendra Kushwaha's RLM have also open their accounts.The 2025 assembly election in Bihar revealed several striking statistics. The state recorded not only recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 66.9 per cent, the most since 1951, but what stood out even more was women's participation: an unprecedented 71 per cent of women voted, surpassing men's turnout of 62.8 per cent by a significant 8.2 percentage points.According to the Election Commission's final electoral roll, Bihar has 7.43 crore registered voters, including 3.5 crore women, accounting for a little over 47 percent of the electorate. The broad consensus emerging from the ground suggests another five-year term for the NDA, with Nitish Kumar being the biggest beneficiary of the record participation by women, political experts said. The Grand Alliance, however, insists that the higher turnout signals a vote for change. The truth will be known in a few hours when the votes start getting counted.Past electoral trends show that women, cutting across caste lines, have remained loyal to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In the 2020 election, older women voters voted for the opposition alliance, while women in the 18-39 age group voted more for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a post-poll survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) showed.Several reasons appear to indicate that Kumar enjoys undying loyalty among women voters.ALSO READ: Bihar Election Result 2025 Live UpdatesSoon after coming to power in 2005, Nitish Kumar introduced several women-friendly schemes, like 50% reservation for women in the panchayat system. He also helped women secure state government jobs with a 35 per cent reservation quota.

The complete liquor ban was another issue that earned Kumar women's support. The ban, however, has turned controversial over the past few years, with opposition alleging mushrooming of illegal liquor business due to faulty implementation of the policy. Election strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav have carried out an intense campaign highlighting the ill-impacts of the policy. The Jan Suraaj Party chief has pledged to immediately lift the ban if he comes to power.Just two months before the polls, Nitish Kumar announced Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana - a scheme that provides a one-time payment of Rs 10,000 to one woman from every family to start a business. Those who get successful with their venture will get additional benefits of up to Rs 2 lakh, Kumar said at the launch of the scheme at the end of August.

By November - the time the elections started, more than 1 crore women had received the money.Nitish Kumar has taken a leaf out of the direct cash transfer to women. The cash transfer scheme has helped governments in West Bengal, Assam, Delhi, Jharkhand and Maharashtra to retain power in the past. Whether this last-minute move can influence voters remains to be seen.ALSO READ: Is Baar Kiski Sarkar? Nitish Kumar vs Tejashwi YadavHowever, during these two months, Bihar has seen a considerable decline in female voters, as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) removed more women (22.7 lakh) than men (15.3 lakh) from the voter list. Bihar now has 892 female voters per 1,000 male voters, down from 899 women for every 1,000 men voters in 2020.Will this affect Nitish Kumar’s party's prospects in the Bihar battle? The answer will be known in a few hours.