The large mandate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Bihar Assembly elections , and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surpassing its 2010 tally of 91 seats, stems from a combination of factors. Key among them are the unified approach of the alliance on its governance record, the cultivation of women as a dependable support base through welfare measures, and a high degree of micro-management by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on issues that could otherwise have derailed the campaign.

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Women’s vote

Women in Bihar have been a support base that the NDA under Nitish Kumar has assiduously cultivated since the 2005 victory, through measures ranging from bicycles for schoolgirls to reservations in jobs. The Jeevika network of Self Hel

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