In Begusarai district’s Matihani block, Nitish Kumar was holding a rally. The crowd was striking, not just for its size but because women outnumbered men. Some had even brought their children along. Many onlookers claimed that Jeevika didis — members of women’s self-help groups — had been mobilised in large numbers. But when Nitish took the stage, the warmth and energy of the welcome left little doubt: these were his voters.

In northern India, it’s still uncommon to see so many women at political gatherings. The contrast was evident just a day earlier in Katihar , where Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav addressed a joint rally. There, only a handful of women were present, and many started leaving after Tejashwi’s speech — organisers had to persuade them to stay for Rahul Gandhi.

Once a

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