Assam borrows from BJP’s Maharashtra, Bihar playbook with big bet on women ahead of elections

During the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Assam had a total electorate of 2,45,72,144 with 1,23,39,241 women voters and 1,23,25,293 male voters.

• Assam enhances Orunodoi scheme, gives early Bihu gifts to 37 lakh women beneficiaries
• Women-centric schemes credited for NDA's poll wins in Bihar, MP, and Maharashtra
• Direct cash transfers to women voters seen as key to recent electoral successes

Did our AI summary help?

Buoyed by the impact of women-centric schemes on the recent poll results in Bihar, the Assam government is focussing its attention on similar schemes to strengthen its voter outreach ahead of the Assembly polls in the state.

In Assam, the Orunodoi scheme has become the cornerstone of this strategy. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said over 37 lakh women beneficiaries of the 'Orunodoi' scheme will receive an advance 'Bohag Bihu' gift on February 20.

The 'Bohag Bihu' is the Assamese New Year, which is celebrated in April.  This includes Rs 5,000 under Orunodoi from January to April, along with a special Rs 3,000 as Bihu gift.

Ahead of the election last year, the Bihar government rolled out the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana  for 75 lakh women as seed capital for self-employment.

What is the Orunodoi scheme?

Launched in 2020, the Orunodoi scheme aimed to help beneficiaries meet minimum health and nutritional needs through medicines, sugar, vegetables and fruits.

In October last year, Sarma launched Orunodoi 3.0. The direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme seeks to empower women. With Rs 1,250 per month now reaching 38 lakh women, and six lakh more from the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) set to join soon, the scheme will touch 44 lakh households and cost the state exchequer a staggering Rs 5,000 crore annually, according to reports.

“Orunodoi represents more than just financial aid. It stands as a symbol of respect and gratitude from the state govt toward the women and mothers of Assam”, Sarma said while centrally launching the scheme at the Veterinary Science College playground in Khanapara.

Women voters in Assam

During the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Assam had a total electorate of 2,45,72,144 with 1,23,39,241 women voters and 1,23,25,293 male voters.

In the first phase of polls held in five constituencies of Upper Assam, women recorded a higher voter turnout of 78.81 per cent as against male voters 77.69 per cent.

In the second phase, also in five seats, women registered 85.55 per cent of votes as against 84.41 per cent by men.

BJP’s ‘Brahmastra’ in Bihar

Ahead of  the Bihar assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi transferred Rs 10,000 each directly to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women in the state.

The Rs 7,500-crore "Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana", an initiative of the Nitish Kumar-led government, was aimed at promoting women's empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities.

Nearly 1.5 crore women received 10,000 each directly into their bank accounts from the Bihar government under the Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme before the election announcement.

During the Bihar polls, not only did women voters turned out to vote in much larger numbers as compared to all the previous elections, but they also seemed to have voted decisively in favour of the NDA. According to the Election Commission 71.6 per cent of female electors cast their ballots compared to 62.8 per cent of men.

The direct cash transfer to women is  widely considered to have been a significant factor in the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

The BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 89 seats.  Its ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), won 85 seats, while Union Minister Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) bagged 19 seats. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), headed by former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, won five seats, while Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha bagged four seats.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Ladli Behna scheme is widely seen as a key factor behind the BJP’s sharp rise in the 2023 Assembly elections, with the party’s seat count jumping from 109 to 163.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Mazi Ladki Bahin scheme, rolled out ahead of the 2024 polls, is believed to have helped the ruling Mahayuti (NDA) alliance expand its tally from 161 to 230 seats. The scheme aimed to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to poor women between the ages of 21 and 65 whose incomes are less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually.

Broad electoral analyses suggest that a decisive swing among women voters played a crucial role in underpinning these landslide victories.