The recent Assembly Election in February 2025 in Delhi showed us that the numbers of female voters were more than the male voters. On 5th February, 60.92% of women voted and the number of males was 60.21%. These numbers are not new, more and more women are coming out to practice their rights. There is not much of a difference between the numbers, but seeing more women on polling day, looks like a happy picture.
Progressive Results in Conservative Times
India has gone through ten years of political upheaval with some indication of intensity. India’s conservative movement discovered a new momentum with the arrival of the BJP in 2014. This revitalization has ignited a surge of cultural revivalism, transformed party dynamics, changed caste relationships, and an encouraged movement towards mercantilism.
In addition to these shifts, the last fifteen years have seen a significant rise in women’s involvement in politics, prompting political parties to compete for the “Women’s Vote” with differing levels of effectiveness. But India’s electoral past can be seen from the gender perspective as well, emphasizing modern India and the BJP’s ongoing attempts to engage women. It analyzes how India’s leading right-wing ruling party has effectively integrated women into political arenas by promoting a political agenda centered around the ethical idea of seva, or selfless service. This approach, along with others, has, in a brief timeframe, contributed to turning around the party’s long-standing shortfall with women.
Well another study says that more and more women are coming into the political space, practising their rights. All this is because of education and a better understanding of politics, but nobody talks about how political leaders from the BJP often end up giving misogynist claims. Even some states governed by BJP end up in headlines for mismanagement of rape cases.
But despite all this Why are Women voting for BJP now ?
How did this happen ?
We say “Behind every successful man, there is a woman”
Is this the reason Narendra Modi is getting all his votes?
Twist of Fate: Women’s Political Involvement
On a global scale, the political arena has predominantly been a male domain, with women lagging behind in electoral participation, candidacy, activism, and overall involvement. The nations labelled as “first-wave democracies” (1828–1926) {such as the US, France, Britain}, democratic growth resulted in the extension of voting rights to white men, excluding women. Consequently, women encountered countless tough struggles to attain their voting rights, making suffrage movements an essential initial phase in women’s activism.
In India, on the other hand, universal adult suffrage was established in the constitution and guaranteed political equality for women right after India’s independence in 1947. Unfortunately, 2.8 million Indian women were left out of the rolls, because they refused to disclose their names. This was seen as a huge and powerful step taken by a newly independent nation like India in comparison to the rest of the world. However, personal experience has not consistently reflected that expected equality.
For example, in terms of voting, the turnout for women was notably less than that of men. In the 1962 elections, the initial election where voter information was separated by gender, merely 47 percent of qualified women voters participated, compared to a notable 63 percent of men. Additionally, even when women participated in voting, they were often swayed or even guided by male of their families. Lack of education and involvement in politics was the reason women had to ask their male counterparts for political opinions. If they had no advice, they would abstain themselves from voting. For example, survey data from the 1996 national elections showed that 86 percent of women considered their families’ guidance when deciding how to vote.
Women Turnout in BJP
BJP has surely achieved some success in rallying women, and the other parties have not given up either. The favored strategy of almost all groups, including the BJP, to attract the women’s vote has primarily been through focused “pro-women” initiatives. The list of these initiatives is extensive; it comprises the Janata Dal (United)’s enforcement of Alcohol Prohibition in Bihar, the All India Trinamool Congress’s Kanyashree conditional cash transfer initiative, and the BJP’s Ladli Behna unconditional cash transfer (in Madhya Pradesh) and nationwide Ujjwala gas cylinder subsidy. In rural areas women who are a part of any Self Help Group, are provided with micro financing under the Mahila Samridhi Yojana. However, there is scant evidence regarding the effectiveness of any specific welfare program, as rival parties frequently make comparable promises.
Furthermore, parties encounter challenges in conveying these policy platforms to women due to differences in political understanding, connections, and socialization. To close this divide, it is essential to invest in a group of activists who can connect with and rally women through direct interaction. Well, this was done by BJP with the help of Sapiens Research, a multi-functional and mobilisation organization to find solutions for socio-political issues. This organisation was founded by Rimjhim Gour. They worked for BJP in 2023 in Madhya Pradesh. Her organisation took women to various workshops, where they were taught about the functioning of poll booths. This really brought a larger democratic impact in the state, BJP won and Mohan Yadav became the Chief Minister of the state.
Although such investments can yield benefits for everyone involved, it is especially vital for political parties like BJP in this case, whose achievements depend solely on electoral victories. But this initiative showed women that they can also vote, and choose people according to their wishes. This has two implications, first it creates a wider backing for BJP’s cultural and ideological aims and secondly, now that women are educated about their voting rights, their representative, they can change him/her the next tenure, if work is done at satisfactory levels.
In this context, the BJP’s strong connection to Hindutva is frequently viewed as an assertive expression of religious nationalism, which could appear contradictory to the party’s growing achievements in attracting women. According to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies women’s attraction to the BJP goes beyond simple voting choices. Even though Hindutva is linked to masculine imagery, women who back the BJP show engagement in electoral activities that is on par with or even exceeds that of women affiliated with other political parties. In recent times, this pattern has become more evident, with BJP surpassing its competitors in engaging female backers.
Taming Politics Through Service
To grasp why the BJP effectively engages women voters, it is essential to recognize the obstacles that women encounter in participating in politics. A significant barrier is the common view of politics as corrupt and unethical, which renders it especially inappropriate for women. This belief is deeply rooted in patriarchal societies, where women frequently bear the responsibility of maintaining family honor and social standing. As a result, any departure that women pursue from conventional standards may result in reputational repercussions for themselves and social repercussions for their families, leading household leaders to restrict women’s political participation.
However, concurrently, when Indians are questioned about the essence of politics, an alternate narrative surfaces—one focused on ethical values grounded in the principle of seva, or selfless service. In this context, seva signifies not just the tangible supply of goods and services but also reflects qualities that citizens seek in their leaders—being approachable to constituents, understanding their needs, and assisting them during challenging times.
Vote Bank or Women Empowerment ?
One should not forget that BJP is creating a separate vote bank of Indian women in the name of women empowerment. After 2014, the crimes against women have increased. The overall number of crimes against women per one hundred thousand of population have increased from 56.3 in 2014 to 66.4 in 2022. The rise in violence towards women highlights not only a profound patriarchal prejudice but also a complete institutional breakdown.
On an occasion, we have observed the BJP standing up for and safeguarding individuals charged with committing violence against women. For instance, Smriti Irani, the union minister for women and child development, disgracefully criticized victims who openly identify their abusers, claiming they are “defaming” the government after the Kathua Rape Case, Jammu and Kashmir.
Evidently, the culture of impunity has become increasingly established, especially among individuals close to the ruling elites and from dominant castes and communities or other influential societal roles. During the past ten years of Modi’s administration, there have been many troubling cases of sexual violence, with a significant number affecting women from marginalized groups and those in economically precarious situations.
Well, there is no clear reason why more and more women are voting for BJP (Modi), whatever it is it will fade very soon. It should also be seen that Narendra Modi’s appeal is costing India a large number of difficulties, which might outlast his tenure. This is the time when unemployment is rising, fuel prices are going up, inflation is touching skies, crimes against women but the only thing BJP supporters are holding together is their religious identities. It is no surprise that if communal unrest escalates and the economy remains mired in difficulties, it would be the women managing the household who would rise against him.