Bihar Election Result 2025: Will Nitish Kumar Become Chief Minister for the Tenth Time?
In Brief
Did the Women's Employment Scheme change the tide in Bihar?
Will Nitish Kumar become Chief Minister for the tenth time?
10,000 rupees in the accounts of 1.5 crore women
Nitish Kumar may become the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time. The results of the Bihar elections indicate that the NDA has returned to power in Bihar with a massive majority. In Indian politics, it is rare for a politician to receive such long-term public support in public life. Nitish Kumar has achieved this distinction. The cash transfer of 10,000 rupees to women's accounts marked a significant milestone in Nitish Kumar's 10th term.
The plan to deposit 10,000 rupees into women's accounts proved to be a decisive turning point for Nitish Kumar in the Bihar elections. This strengthened the trust of women voters in his favor and weakened the opponents' strategy. On the 26th of last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi literally launched this plan. At that time, he transferred 10,000 rupees into the bank accounts of 7.5 million female beneficiaries. Later, this number became 15 million. The Bihar NDA has named this plan the Chief Minister Women's Employment Scheme. Nitish's government claims that this scheme was started to promote self-employment.
10,000 rupees in the accounts of 1.5 crore women
On August 29, 2025, just before the elections, the Nitish Kumar cabinet approved this scheme. Subsequently, the opposition accused the government of buying votes. However, the election results indicate that this scheme reversed the anti-incumbency factor against the Nitish Kumar government.
Nitish's scheme proved to be a game changer in the elections. Under this scheme, 10,000 rupees were transferred to the accounts of 1.5 crore women. There are approximately 3.6 crore women voters in Bihar. The Women's Employment Scheme benefited 1.5 crore women, which helped the NDA.
In this election, more than 71% of the total female voters cast their votes, benefiting the NDA. If this fund of 10,000 rupees reached the accounts of 1.5 crore women, it indirectly affected approximately 4 to 5 crore families. Thus, not only the women who received 10,000 rupees but also other women in their families voted for the NDA. It can be said that this scheme significantly contributed to the vote share of Nitish Kumar and the BJP.
According to this scheme, women do not have to repay this amount of 10,000 rupees, meaning it is not a loan. It is given to women to create employment opportunities. The government has stated that if women successfully create employment opportunities using these 10,000 rupees, they will be given an additional loan of 2 lakh rupees.
Nitish Kumar has a long history of providing schemes for the benefit of women. This includes free bicycles, prohibition, scholarships, 50 percent reservation in panchayat seats, and 35 percent reservation in government jobs. This time, Nitish Kumar not only promised the cash gift of 10,000 rupees but also fulfilled it. This helped Nitish develop a 'trust chain' with women, leading to a large turnout in voting.
10 Times as Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar has served as the Chief Minister of Bihar nine times so far. The 10th term awaits him. He is one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India, with a total tenure of over 20 years.
Nitish Kumar first became the Chief Minister of Bihar on March 3, 2000, for seven days. It was a minority government, and Nitish Kumar had to resign. After a year-long wait, Nitish returned to power in March 2005. He returned with a full majority in November 2005. He became Chief Minister for the third time in 2010. Then, in 2014, he separated from the BJP. After the grand victory of the Mahagathbandhan in 2015, Nitish returned again. In 2017, he separated from the Mahagathbandhan and joined the NDA.
In the 2020 election, Nitish became the Chief Minister again. In 2022, Nitish left the NDA again and became the Chief Minister with the Grand Alliance. In January 2024, Nitish once again left the Grand Alliance and joined the BJP, becoming the Chief Minister for the ninth time. Now, his tenth term as the Chief Minister of Bihar awaits him.