Women's vote decisive in Bihar, but only 12% winners are women

ADR Analysis: 130(53%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves

GN Bureau | November 15, 2025


#Gender   #Elections   #Politics   #Bihar  
(Photo: Governance Now)
(Photo: Governance Now)

The stunning victory of the NDA in the Bihar assembly elections is largely credited to the women voters who registered a far higher turnout than men, but out of the 243 winning candidates analysed, only 29 (12%) winning candidates are women. Still, this is an improvement over 2020, when out of 241 MLAs analysed, 26 (11%) MLAs were women.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 243 winning candidates in the Bihar 2025 Assembly Elections, and found that 130 (53%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of 241 MLAs analysed during the 2020 polls, 163 (68%) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves.

The full analysis can be accessed here: https://adrindia.org/content/Winners-Report-Bihar-2025

As many as 102 (42%) winners have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. For 2020, the respective numbers were 123 (51%). Six winning candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves and 19 winning candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves. Nine winning candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.

Party Wise Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases:
54 (61%) out of 89 winning candidates from BJP, 31(36%) out of 85 winning candidates from JD(U), 18 (72%) out of 25 winning candidates from RJD, 11(58%) out of 19 winning candidates from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 4 (67%) out of 6 winning candidates from INC, 5(100%) out of 5 winning candidates from AIMIM, 1(20%) out of 5 winning candidates from HAM(S), 1(25%) out of 4 winning candidates from Rashtriya Lok Morcha, 2(100%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI(ML)(L), 1(100%) out of 1 winning candidate from CPI(M), 1(100%) out of 1 winning candidate from Indian Inclusive Party and 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Financial Background:
218 (90%) winners are crorepatis. (2020: 194 or 81%) 
Party-wise crorepati winning candidates:
78(92%) out of 85 winning candidates from JD(U), 77(87%) out of 89 winning candidates from BJP, 24 (96%) out of 25 winning candidates from RJD, 16(84%) out of 19 winning candidates from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 6(100%) out of 6 Winning candidates from INC, 5(100%) out of 5 Winning candidates from AIMIM, 4(80%) out of 5 Winning candidates from HAM(S), 4(100%) out of 4 Winning candidates from Rashtriya Lok Morcha, 1(100%) out of 1 Winning candidate from CPI(M), 1(100%) out of 1 Winning candidate from Indian Inclusive Party, 1(100%) out of 1 Winning candidate from BSP  and 1(50%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI(ML)(L) have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.  

Education:

84(35%) winning candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass while 147 (60%) winning candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate and above. 5 winning candidates are Diploma holders and 7 winning candidates have declared their education just literate.

Age:
38(16%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 40 years while 143 (59%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 41 and 60 years. There are 62 (26%) winning candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years.

Comments

 

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter