Fewer women MLAs in Bihar cabinet this time compared to 2010

The number of women voters may have exceeded those of their male counterparts in voting during the Bihar assembly elections but their number in the 243-member house has decreased to 28 from 34 in the 2010 polls.

Of the 28 women lawmakers, 13 are new faces while 15 have been re-elected from their respective constituencies.

The Grand Alliance had fielded 25 women candidates while the NDA gave tickets to 24.

Lalu Prasad’s RJD, rated low on the law and order front, has the most women — 10 — in the new house followed by nine of JD(U) and four each of Congress and BJP. Baby Kumari, the lone independent woman MLA, defeated 10-time legislator and senior JD(U) leader Ramai Ram on his home turf, Bochaha (reserved) seat.

The representation of women in the Bihar assembly this time works out to 11.52% of the house strength compared to 14% in 2010, which was the highest since the 1950s.

The BJP’s women candidates fared the worst — only four of the 14 women candidates fielded by it managed to win. Local party leaders held the denial of tickets to at least three sitting women MLAs responsible for this performance.

In 2010, JD (U) and BJP — then NDA partners — had fielded 24 and 11 women candidates. All but one candidate each from both parties won, besides an independent.

Poll analysts believe enthusiasm among women voters, who helped increase the overall turnout (56.8%) by nearly 5%, influenced the GA’s electoral fortunes. They attributed this to a slew of measures undertaken by the Nitish Kumar government for women, including 50% reservation for them in teachers’ recruitment and panchayats.