• Source:JND
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Bihar Election Phase 2: The voting for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is set to start on Tuesday morning, and the focus is on the candidates on all 122 seats. However, a special focus is on 136 women candidates who will take on their opponents to win a seat in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.

According to Election Commission data, out of the total 1,302 candidates, 1,165 are men, 136 are women and one is a third gender candidate in the final phase.

Major parties have fielded several high-profile women leaders. They are also activating their women's wings to attract female voters.

Here are some prominent female candidates:

1. Renu Devi (BJP): Renu Devi, contesting from the Bettiah assembly seat, is the most prominent female face of the NDA. She has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. Her political stature and her outspokenness on women's empowerment issues make her a high-profile candidate in this phase.

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2. Leshi Singh (JDU): Senior JDU leader and former minister Leshi Singh is contesting from the Dhamdaha assembly seat. She is a member of the JDU core committee and is considered among the party's top women leaders. Her candidacy is important in highlighting the NDA's women-centric governance and schemes.

3. Deepa Manjhi (HAM): Deepa Manjhi, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate from Imamganj (SC), is the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Deepa, who has a strong hold within the Mahadalit community, is a key part of the NDA alliance's social inclusion strategy.

4. Ritu Jaiswal (Independent): Ritu Jaiswal, contesting as an independent from the Parihar assembly seat in Sitamarhi district, was formerly a firebrand RJD leader and a well-known leader. The wife of an IAS officer, she has won the "Champions of Change" award for her public service. She is posing a strong challenge in the Parihar seat.

5. Shreyasi Singh (BJP): Shreyasi Singh, the BJP candidate from Jamui, is an international shooter and the daughter of the late former Union Minister Digvijay Singh. A first-time MLA in 2020, she has brought laurels to the country by winning medals in shooting at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her youthful and glamorous profile is a key attraction for the BJP.

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6. Gayatri Devi (BJP): Gayatri Devi, the outgoing BJP MLA from the Parihar assembly seat in Sitamarhi district, is seeking to retain her seat. She is banking on her strong local presence and party support to face independent candidate Ritu Jaiswal and other candidates.

Political analyst Shobhit Suman believes that women's turnout will be decisive in this phase. Women have consistently supported Nitish Kumar. This time, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan has also announced various schemes to engage women.

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