Bihar's upcoming election has seen a major announcement by Tejashvi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan alliance. Just 48 hours before the first phase of voting, he declared that if his coalition wins, women will receive 30,000 rupees in a lump sum under the 'Mai Bahin Yojana' on 14 January. This amount covers an entire year's payment. Earlier, Tejashvi had focused heavily on youth employment, promising a government job for every household within 20 months of forming government. He made this announcement on 8 October. Now, with this latest cash promise, political observers believe Tejashvi is attempting to target women voters, traditionally considered a core support base for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Bihar has approximately 1.63 crore voters aged 18-35, including 14.1 lakh first-time voters. Women voters form 47% of the electorate, and their turnout has been rising consistently over the past three elections. Surveys suggest around 48% of women currently favor Nitish Kumar. Tejashvi's strategy appears designed to weaken the 'jungle raj' (lawlessness) narrative being pushed by the NDA and to neutralize fears among women voters about security under RJD rule. Direct cash transfers have proven effective in recent state elections like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, where incumbent parties benefited significantly. The timing and scale of this announcement reflect a calculated move to shift voter sentiment just before polling begins.
From Youth Employment to Women Welfare
Tejashvi Yadav initially centered his campaign around young voters, breaking from his usual kurta-pajama attire to campaign in T-shirts and pants. He repeatedly emphasized unemployment as Bihar's biggest challenge, highlighting job appointments during the 2022 to 2024 Mahagathbandhan government period. On 8 October 2025, he promised one government job per household within 20 months, though he has not yet released any blueprint for where these positions would come from. In February this year, during an RJD women's conference, Tejashvi announced 2,500 rupees monthly for women under a proposed 'Mai Bahin Man Yojana'. However, the Nitish government quickly countered by transferring 10,000 rupees to 1.5 crore women linked with Jeevika Didi groups under a reworked employment scheme. Facing a weaker position against this direct benefit, Tejashvi escalated his promise to 30,000 rupees annually, payable in one installment on Makar Sankranti. This shift signals his attempt to capture both youth and women voters simultaneously.
Nitish Kumar's Two-Decade Women Voter Base
Since assuming power in 2005, Nitish Kumar has carefully built women into a reliable vote bank. His government introduced 50% reservation for women in panchayats and enforced a statewide alcohol ban, both measures highly popular among female voters. The CSDS survey of the 2020 Bihar assembly election revealed that while many male voters supported the Mahagathbandhan, a majority of women voted for the NDA. Women constitute 47% of Bihar's electorate, and their voting percentage has consistently exceeded that of men over the last three elections. Surveys conducted by SNDA and JDU's internal assessments claim that 48% of women currently favor Nitish Kumar. His government's recent Mahila Samman Rozgar Yojana, which provided 10,000 rupees to Jeevika-linked women for business purposes, further strengthened his standing. NDA leaders have aggressively promoted the fear of 'jungle raj' returning under RJD rule, a narrative particularly impactful among women concerned about law and order affecting their mobility, employment, and freedom.
Proven Impact of Cash Transfers Before Elections
Recent state elections demonstrate the effectiveness of direct cash benefits delivered before polling. In Madhya Pradesh, the Ladli Behna Yojana provided 1,200 rupees monthly to eligible women before elections, contributing significantly to BJP's repeat victory. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren transferred two installments of the Maiya Samman Yojana before voting on 20 November 2024, which helped him secure re-election. Similar patterns emerged in Maharashtra. When voters receive one or two installments before elections, trust in the government increases, and they vote less based on party affiliation. Opposition parties can only make promises but cannot disburse funds before elections. However, data from the past two years shows voters trust BJP's promises more than other parties, as seen in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Professor Sanjay Kumar from CSDS notes that Tejashvi's 30,000 rupees announcement attempts to neutralize jungle raj fears by offering women economic empowerment and improved livelihoods. Whether this last-minute strategy can swing crucial votes remains uncertain until results arrive.
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