Women may hold the key in Bihar again, and Nitish Kumar knows it

On board a local bus from Araria to Saharsa in the northeastern part of Bihar, on National Highway 231, Rajiv Kumar, a resident of Kishanpur village in Supaul district, says it is too early to predict the outcome of the assembly election.

- gulam jeelani [e-mail] ARARIA/SUPAUL/MADHEPURA

In recent years, women voters in Bihar have emerged as a significant political constituency that transcends caste lines.

(AFP)

As our bus crosses Raniganj, Kumar says he, however, is certain about one thing: “Mahilaen to Nitish ko hi vote denge (women will vote for Nitish Kumar for sure),” Kumar tells this reporter as the bus stopped for a break on 28 October, the day Chhath Puja celebrations ended in Bihar. He refers to the ‘10,000 Jeevika Didi’ scheme. “Ghar toot jayega, but vote NDA ko hi Jayega (Even if families break, women will vote for NDA only),” Kumar, a government employee, said.