ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates women's political place in Bihar's electoral politics, which is deeply affected by the gender-sensitive milieu of socio-economic differences which are crucial in shaping the representation of women in the political sphere. It argues that despite being important stakeholders in state politics, women have not been able to assert their place in democratic politics. It also analyses how political parties woo them as a vote bank with populist rhetorical schemes but offering no power levers. The chapter underlines the contours of asymmetrically lopsided representation of women juxtaposed with chronic traits of political-inheritance syndrome, criminalization of politics, plutocratic characterization of winnability of candidates, and propensity of dynasticism among regional parties in Bihar.
