As the NDA returns to power with an impressive 202 MLAs in Bihar’s 243-member Lower House, the newly elected 18th Assembly is older and richer than its predecessor. Not only are there more women this time, but the number of MLAs facing criminal cases has also dropped, shows an analysis of candidates’ election affidavits and data compiled by the Association of Democratic Reforms.

Women’s representation

Though women played a key role in returning the NDA and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to power, their representation in the new Assembly has only risen by 3 MLAs, to 29 from 26 in the previous House, despite record-setting numbers of women turning out to vote.

The number of women MLAs in the Bihar Assembly has been declining since 2010, when 34 women were elected. In 2015, this dropped to

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