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According to Election Commission data, of the total 1,302 candidates, 1,165 are men, 136 are women, and one is a third-gender candidate.
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Patna: Ahead of the second phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections on November 11, the large number of women candidates in the fray has attracted attention. A total of 136 women are contesting in this phase.
According to Election Commission data, of the total 1,302 candidates, 1,165 are men, 136 are women, and one is a third-gender candidate.
Major parties have fielded several high-profile women leaders. The party is activating its women's wing to attract female voters.
1. Renu Devi (BJP): Renu Devi, contesting from the Bettiah assembly seat, is the most prominent female face of the NDA. She has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. Her political stature and her outspokenness on women's empowerment issues make her a high-profile candidate in this phase.
2. Lesy Singh (JDU): Senior JDU leader and former minister Lesy Singh is contesting from the Dhamdaha assembly seat. She is a member of the JDU core committee and is considered among the party's top women leadership. Her candidacy is important in highlighting the NDA's women-centric governance and schemes.
Bihar Election 2025 Result Date: Nitish vs Tejashwi; All eyes on November 14 counting day
3. Deepa Manjhi (HAM): Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate from the Imamganj (SC) seat, Deepa Manjhi, is the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Deepa, who has a strong hold among the Mahadalit community, is an important part of the NDA alliance's social inclusion strategy.
4. Ritu Jaiswal (Independent): Ritu Jaiswal, contesting as an independent from the Parihar assembly seat in Sitamarhi district, was formerly a firebrand RJD leader and a well-known leader. The wife of an IAS officer, she has won the 'Champions of Change' award for her public service. She is posing a strong challenge in the Parihar seat.
5. Shreyasi Singh (BJP): The BJP candidate from the Jamui seat, Shreyasi Singh, is an international shooter and daughter of the late former Union Minister Digvijay Singh. She became an MLA for the first time in 2020 and has brought laurels to the country by winning medals in shooting at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her youthful and glamorous profile is a significant attraction for the BJP.
Bihar Election 2025 Result Date: Nitish vs Tejashwi; All eyes on November 14 counting day
6. Gayatri Devi (BJP): Gayatri Devi, the outgoing BJP MLA from the Parihar assembly seat in Sitamarhi district, is seeking to retain her seat this time again. She is facing independent candidate Ritu Jaiswal and other candidates, relying on her strong local influence and party support.
Eye on female turnout
Political analyst Shobhit Suman believes that female turnout will prove decisive in this phase. Women have consistently supported Nitish Kumar. This time, the Grand Alliance has also announced several schemes to engage women.
This time, women are poised to play a decisive role in Bihar politics. However, the harsh reality is that political parties still refuse to give tickets to women. The only talk is about 35 percent reservation.
