Assembly elections are due in Bihar in October-November this year. The Election Commission has not yet announced voting dates, but political stir in the state has intensified. Various political parties are making breathtaking announcements, new issues are being thrown. Be it the Gopal Khemka murder case or the tantra mantra, the tragedy of burning five people of the same family- Nitish Kumar is being questioned. Just before the assembly elections, with questions of doubt on the special intensive revision campaign of voter lists, the vocal opposition parties are seriously considering the law options along with the political fight against it. Meanwhile, NDA’s ally Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has made the political scenario interesting by indicating to contest all the 243 assembly seats in Bihar, making a distance from NDA. Amid these scenarios, the Bihar government has given a new twist to the electoral enthusiasts by deciding to reserve 35 percent seats for local women in government jobs. This decision of the Bihar government is not just an election strategy, but also an indicator of a deep social change. It is certain that this time the Bihar elections will be very interesting and uproar.
35 percent reservation for local women in government jobs is deep implications. The NDA’s Nitish government has stained this Brahmasastra to give priority to local women and providing government employment to them and has done electoral equations in its favor. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called it a “political solution to women empowerment”, as women of the state are playing a decisive role in many elections. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the polling rate of women was much higher than men, 59.45 percent of women participated while men arrived to vote only 53 percent. This figure shows how decisive women voters can be in electoral victory, it is clear, women have taken the key of power there and they are inspired by sexual interests more than religious and caste urges. Bihar is one of the early states that reserved fifty percent seats for half the population in panchayat and local bodies. This step has created tremendous political awareness among the women here. Due to playing an important and decisive character in changing the condition and direction of elections, every political party has started attracting the women’s class. The Grand Alliance of RJD-Congress-Tams parties has promised to give Rs 2,500 per month to women under the ‘My-Beheen Mann Yojana’, while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is raising the issue of unemployment and domicile vigorously. In such a situation, this policy bet of Nitish government can be understood. It is definitely an organized move to capitalize on caste and local equations, where both caste and residentiality were made the basis.
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It is a well -known fact that gender gaps in the educational sector in India are constantly confined. The daughters of Bihar have made an identity in many metros of the country on the basis of their merit and hard work. Due to the information revolution, increasing expectations and loose of feudal bonds, now the daughters of rural Bihar are also having high dreams. Recently, during the appointment of teachers in Bihar, it was observed that qualified girls from different states of the country came to interview, many of whom have achieved success and are now teaching in government schools in Bihar. Undoubtedly, it is a theoretically progressive and inclusive society, where women are going beyond borders and making their identity. But if you look at the practical plane, then women safety, social inequality, housing and family obstacles, and migration compulsions still exist. In such a situation, if governments provide employment opportunities around their house, then it will not only be a meaningful step towards women empowerment, but will also cause stability and family convenience in social structure. This is the reason that the Nitish Kumar government is bringing plans one after the other to woo women voters. Several steps such as cycle scheme, dress scheme, Kanya Utthan Yojana, increase in old age pension, pink toilet, reservation in women police recruitment have already been taken in this regard. It is believed that daughters are now not only the beauty of their homes, but are partners of nation building, there is a clear glimpse in policy making. This will not only make the women of Bihar experience their rights, but will also prevent the migration of local talent in the state struggling with unemployment. This decision will benefit especially lower and middle class women, for which working in other cities becomes a big family and social crisis. Getting a job near the house will not only increase the spirit of security, but will also strengthen the permanent appearance and role of women in the society.
However, a mixed response of opposition parties has come to light about this decision. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has described it as Nitish Kumar’s electoral move and alleged that the government is not able to overcome the real problems of women, but is trying to collect votes only by bouncing emotional issues. Tejashwi Yadav says that “Women’s reservation is correct, but when are employment opportunities? The process of government appointments remains hanging for years, the dates of the examination are postponed, appointment letters come late, when and who will get the benefit of reservation?” There is also truth in his words, because the transparency and timeliness of processes is as important as the policy of reservation. This women’s reservation will now be for permanent residents of Bihar ie Domicle women only. That is, women who are not permanent residents of the state will not get the benefit of this reservation-they will have to apply in the general category. Therefore, it is considered to be a direct propaganda to only practice domestic interests, in which non-established residents are being denied opportunities. The opposition is raising the question, describing this step as in accordance with the domicile policy, whether it will not deteriorate the spirit of social justice and equal opportunity?
Unemployment in Bihar is the main issue of electoral discussion. The youth, especially the highly educated class, are looking for a job. Along with 35 percent reservation, the government has taken measures such as vacancies Creation, Youth Commission formation, agriculture and road infrastructure. The Bihar election of 2025 is full of multidimensional fighting, issues like caste equation, youth and rural development, voter list amendment have deepened the electoral atmosphere. In the last budget, the government has made provisions for schemes such as ‘Mahila Haat’, ‘Pink Bus’, ‘Pink Toilet’, Bicycle Schemes for School going Girls, “Sambal” financial assistance for disabled candidates. In view of the elections, the Nitish government has announced a huge increase in the amount received under the Social Security Pension Scheme. Now old, disabled and widow women will get a pension of Rs 1100 instead of Rs 400 per month. After this announcement, an atmosphere of joy is visible among 1 crore 9 lakh 69 thousand beneficiaries of pension across Bihar.
It would be appropriate to say that this time the politics of Bihar is going through a serious encounter between localism, caste equation and mixed impositions of social welfare. Election results will decide whether these strategies will really lay a solid foundation of sustainable change, or will be lost in the air after an election speech. The latest opinion poll shows that the NDA may return to power again, especially due to strong support between women and senior citizens. At the same time, the Grand Alliance (RJD, Congress, others) is on the basis of the caste equation (EBC-OBC).
– Fine Garg
Writer, journalist, columnist
(The author has his own views in this article.)