Evaluation of the previous few state elections reveals that though extra girls than males have turned out to vote in Bihar in the previous few elections, girls’s illustration in elections and parliament stays low.
Parliamentary elections in February 2005, the primary since Jharkhand was separated from Bihar, noticed 234 girls vote, 24 of whom entered Parliament. When the state went to the polls a number of months later in October, solely 138 girls voted. In that election, 25 girls entered Congress.
In 2010, the variety of girls within the Home of Representatives elevated to 34 (307 girls operating). Of those, 22 had been JD(U) MLAs and 11 had been from the BJP. There was additionally one impartial feminine member of the parliament.
5 years later, the variety of girls on the poll and the variety of girls elected to Congress have each declined within the state. Though 273 girls participated within the fray, solely 28 may win, the vast majority of them from the JD(U) and RJD, which contested the elections in an alliance. Each events fielded 10 girls candidates every. Whereas all girls contestants from RJD gained, 9 girls MLAs had been elected from JD(U). 4 of the 14 girls fielded by the BJP gained within the polls. Congress additionally placed on a fantastic present with 4 of the 5 feminine contestants successful.
Within the 2020 parliamentary polls, solely 26 out of 370 feminine candidates reached the decrease home, decreasing feminine illustration. The BJP fielded 13 girls candidates, whereas its ally JD(U) nominated 22, of which 9 and 6 tasted victories. The one lady candidate fielded by then NDA associate Mukesh Sahani’s Vikaseer Insaan Occasion (VIP) gained the polls, as did the one lady candidate from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (Secular).
From the opposition Mahagathbandhan, RJD and Congress fielded 16 and 7 girls candidates respectively. Seven of the RJD candidates gained, whereas two from the Congress made it to the Meeting. Different girls candidates — 22 from the Lok Janshakti Occasion (unsplit on the time), 10 from Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Occasion (now Rashtriya Lok Morcha), seven from the Bahujan Samaj Occasion (BSP), and three every from AIMIM and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) — had been voted out.
Upcoming polls and main political events
For subsequent month’s elections, the NDA has fielded 34 girls and the Mahagathbandhan has given tickets to 30. The Bharatiya Janata Occasion and JD(U) every fielded 13 girls, whereas Chirag-led LJP (Ram Vilas) gave tickets to 5. HAM(S) fielded two girls and RLM fielded one lady.
The RJD gave tickets to 24 girls, however the nomination papers of Shweta Suman from Mohania in Kaimur district had been rejected. Congress fielded 5 girls, whereas CPI (ML) Liberation and VIP nominated one lady every.
BSP, which is contesting 130 seats, has fielded 26 girls and Jan Suraaj has fielded 25 girls.
Dr Nirmala Kumari, dean of political science at Magadh College in Bodh Gaya, mentioned political events’ reluctance to help girls is the primary cause for low illustration in parliament. “Every political social gathering has devoted girls wings and girls leaders who work onerous within the discipline. However as a substitute of giving tickets to them, they like to discipline turncoats and outsiders. Even within the upcoming polls, many of the girls candidates are being fielded as a result of they’re sitting MLAs,” she mentioned.
Why are girls voters essential?
Prior to now three elections, Turnout amongst feminine voters was larger than amongst males.. In 2020, 59.69% of ladies voters voted, in comparison with solely 54.45% of males. In 2015, the distinction was even better, with 60.48% of ladies voting in comparison with 53.32% of males. In 2010, 54.49% of ladies voted, in comparison with 51.12% of males.
With extra girls voting, the Nitish Kumar authorities has carried out focused women-centric schemes throughout its twenty years in energy, together with 50% reservation in panchayats, free bicycles, and a ban on alcohol.
“Nitish’s energy is the caste-neutral girls voter base, which he has strengthened by the formation of 1.1 million self-help teams, Rs 10,000 crore assist to 1.4 billion jeevika employees and 1.21 billion girls entrepreneurs. (RJD chief) Tejashwi (Yadav) is envious of this voter base that Nitish has cultivated with nice care,” he mentioned. JD(U) chief.
Tejashwi can be making an attempt to succeed in out to girls voters within the run-up to the election. Final week, he introduced a slew of measures for jeevika employees (rural girls who’re a part of the Bihar Rural Livelihood Challenge, often known as jeevika), together with interest-free loans for 2 years. His different bulletins embody MAA (Makaan, Anna, Aamdani) scheme and BETI (Advantages, Schooling, Coaching and Revenue) scheme, each of which comply with Mahagathbandhan’s proposed Mai Bahin Maan Yojana, which guarantees a month-to-month help of Rs 2,500 to economically deprived girls.
