Women in Bihar elections have worked hard for decades, yet they have never won any of the state’s 45 assembly seats. Despite increasing women’s voter turnout, their presence in the Assembly remains zero. This issue highlights a gap between rising women’s participation as voters and their lack of representation as leaders.
In Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Samastipur districts, women have contested but never won. Out of 11 constituencies in Muzaffarpur, eight have never seen a woman MLA. Similar patterns exist in Sitamarhi, East Champaran, and Madhubani. Even though women’s voting percentage in these areas is often higher than men’s, parties continue to deny them tickets.
Experts like Dr. Taran Rai and Dr. Poonam Singh note that women play a vital role as party workers. They mobilize voters and strengthen party networks. Yet when it comes to ticket distribution, they are ignored. Many tried running as independents, but none succeeded.
In the 2020 election, women’s turnout in some regions was over 62%, while men’s was 55%. Still, not a single woman reached the Assembly. The irony is clear—women strengthen democracy with their votes but remain absent from decision-making seats.
