ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the nuances of politics in Bihar in the context of women's marginalization in politics and a new trajectory of women's empowerment through political participation. It measures the actual level of participation of women in state politics. The chapter does an analysis of three parameters of political participation – voting, contesting, and leading protest movements, with special reference to the violent Naxal and land reforms movements, covering the pre- and post-independence eras. It also reflects on the government's affirmative policies to enhance women's share in the power structure, and its subsequent impact on gender mainstreaming and decision-making. The chapter also addresses the issues of criminalization of politics, violence, and caste rivalries as impediments to women's entry into state-level politics.
