Bihar is considered one of the oldest lands of democracy, with the ‘Ganasangha’ of Vajji dating back to the 6th century BCE. However, the modern democratic politics of that state has been marred by trends of dynastic politics, the overhang of money and muscle power, and a lack of women representatives as legislators.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar once said, “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good.” And legislators are the linchpin of India’s constitutional parliamentary democracy. Hence, to understand the hits and misses of the constitutional project in Bihar, an in-depth analysis of the profile of Bihar legislators holds the key. Such an approach helps not just in decoding what works in Bihar politics, but also unmasks the electoral behaviour of the voters of Bihar.
Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has done extensive work in this aspect. The authors of this report have drawn deep insights from ADR reports. However, a cross-cutting exploration of the legislators’ profile from the dimensions of age, assets, political lineage, educational background, and gender across the four political geographies of Bihar – Bhojpur, Magadh, Mithila, and Seemanchal – was missing. In the backdrop of the upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the authors decided to explore these angles and suggest a few actionable solutions to improve the electoral democracy of Bihar.
This report extends beyond the conventional emphasis on established dynasties and social hierarchies by providing a comprehensive, statistically informed socio-economic analysis of a sample of 40 sitting MLAs of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha who navigate the delicate balance between progress and stagnation.
It profiles leaders whose rise is marked by advanced education and grassroots affiliations, challenging entrenched privilege. At the same time, it examines enduring obstacles: the persistent influence of financial resources, which serves as a modern political gatekeeping mechanism, and the significant gender disparity that continues to exclude a substantial segment of the state’s population from high-level political roles. By presenting this dual narrative, the report provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of the factors likely to shape Bihar’s legislative future.
About the author
Prikshit Rathore is a third-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) student at Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa Campus. His research interests encompass policy analysis, educational equity, and social development, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary methodologies for legal reform and socio-legal issues.
Sneha Yadav is an electronics engineer with post graduation in political science by qualification. Sneha has wide-ranging interests in the contemporary social, economic, administrative and political issues of India.
