The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections, featuring nine women leaders — affectionately dubbed the ‘Nav Devis’ or Nine Goddesses by party members. The move reflects BJP’s continued emphasis on promoting women’s representation in politics.
At the top of the list is Renu Devi, a veteran politician and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, who has been renominated from Bettiah. Alongside her, other prominent women candidates include Gayatri Devi (Parihar), Devanti Yadav (Narpatganj), Sweety Singh (Kishanganj), Nisha Singh (Pranpur), Kavita Devi (Kodha), Rama Nishad (Aurai), Aruna Devi (Warsaliganj), and one woman candidate from Jamui.
Seven of the nine candidates are sitting MLAs, indicating the party’s strategy to field strong, experienced, and locally popular women. Political analysts suggest that this move is a calculated effort to engage female voters, as well as to project an inclusive image ahead of the polls.
By focusing on known women leaders with strong regional influence, the BJP appears to be reinforcing its message of empowerment and grassroots leadership. Observers also note that the selection may inspire greater female participation in politics across party lines.
The party’s decision has been widely discussed on political platforms and could influence how other parties shape their own lists in the run-up to the elections.