Before the exit polls, the Bihar election was being seen as a close contest between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan of Tejaswi Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and few other political parties. There were speculations that the people of Bihar might, in the name of change, hand over power to Tejashwi Yadav instead of Nitish Kumar. Reasons like Nitish Kumar's age, anti-incumbency, Tejashwi Yadav's popularity etc. were being cited. But after the counting of votes, when the Mahagathbandhan suffered a crushing defeat and the Congress was virtually wiped out, election analysts are forced to rethink. Political analysts are attributing the NDA's victory largely to the overwhelming support of women. It is true also, that women voted in an unprecedented manner in this election. In the 2024 parliamentary elections, 59.4 percent of women casted their votes, compared to only 53.3 percent for men. In the 2019 general elections, these percentages were 59.9 and 53.3 percent respectively. But in the 2025 assembly elections, women voted significantly higher, at 71.8 percent, while men's turnout was 63 percent. That's a difference of nearly 9 percentage points. Analysis of various assembly constituencies shows that this difference ranged between 10 percent and 21 percent in many places. In the first phase, the percentage of women and men voting was 69 and 61.6 percent, respectively. However, in the second phase, women voted even more vigorously, with their voting turnout reaching 74.6 percent, while the male voter turnout reached only 64.4 percent.

Since women voted in larger numbers than before, it becomes important to understand the reasons behind this phenomenon. Opposition parties attribute this to the NDA government's transfer of Rs.10,000 to 7.5 million women under the Chief Minister's Women's Employment Scheme shortly before the election announcement. However, it cannot be ruled out that this scheme may have also led women to support the NDA, but the transfer of Rs. 10,000 alone cannot be the reason for women's support, as the Mahagathbandhan also promised Rs. 2,500 per year to women during the election campaign. The Mahagathbandhan also made several other promises. Perhaps the Mahagathbandhan failed to reassure women with its promises, and women placed more trust in the NDA.

Under Lalu Yadav’s rule, the general public was plagued by poor law and order situation. Rapes, kidnapping, extortions, murder, and other crimes were common in Bihar. Women generally, bore the brunt of these crimes. Women feared that if Tejashwi Yadav wins the election and becomes the Chief Minister, this jungle raj could return. Women had tasted the improvements in women's safety and law and order under Nitish Kumar's rule. Therefore, they did not want a repeat of the jungle raj of Lalu's rule. The prohibition implemented during the Nitish Kumar government brought the utmost relief to women. Alcohol was the biggest cause of women's oppression in India's most backward state. Women also feared that the prohibition law could be repealed if another party came to power. Lack of development led to rampant migration, and the law and order situation was steadily deteriorating. Doctors, engineers, and businessmen were all leaving Bihar. In such a scenario, when the Nitish Kumar government came to power, it not only provided better governance to the people of Bihar but also initiated development and public welfare schemes. He earned the reputation of "Sushasan Babu," and his popularity has remained consistent ever since. Welfare schemes became systematic after the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre in 2014. Measures such as the opening of Jan Dhan accounts, followed by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), construction of toilets, construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Rural and Urban Housing Schemes, 100 percent electricity access and uninterrupted power supply, universal access to drinking water, improved health coverage through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, improved Anganwadi facilities, and free distribution of gas cylinders under the Ujjwala Yojana have all brought about significant changes in the lives of ordinary Biharis. It has been observed that migration has stopped and native Biharis are returning to their villages, further improving the prospects for development in Bihar.

It is said that caste equations dominate Bihar politics. Votes are based on caste and community in elections. Politics is often judged by caste equations. It was being said that Tejashwi Yadav could win by polarizing Yadav and Muslim votes. However, this time, not only women but also male voters, regardless of caste considerations, voted for development and good governance, reinstating NDA to power. Although political experts are focusing on the increased female voter turnout for election results in favour of NDA, we must not forget that males also voted more than before.  The increase in voting in the Bihar elections, voting based on issues rather than caste, and the growing participation of women in elections are all indicators of a strengthening of democracy in India. This is also a warning to opposition parties that if they do not shun politics fossed on caste equations, and ignore development and good governance they may continue to face defeat in future elections also.