To woo women voters in Assam, BJP and Congress have pitched competing cash-transfers. In Assam, the BJP sankalp patra promised that the monthly direct bank transfer under Orunodoi scheme would be increased to Rs 3,000 for women and that it aims for 40 lakh “lakhpati baideos , a flagship initiative to economically empower women. Congress, in its manifesto for Assam, has promised an unconditional bank transfer of a stipulated amount to every woman’s account and Rs 50,000 for women entrepreneurs. At the national level, Narendra Modi govt has already moved to implement women’s quota in legislatures from the 2029 general elections. While the overall voter turnout touched an all-time high in Assam and Puducherry (85.9% and 89.9%, respectively), male voter turnout was also the highest ever in these two states. However, the 75.2% male voter turnout in Kerala was much lower than the all-time high of 80.5% recorded in 1987 assembly polls in the state. The massive participation by women electors in these states/UT is not a new phenomenon. In Puducherry, women turnouts have been higher than male turnouts in 18 of the total 30 Lok Sabha and assembly elections held since 1964. In Kerala, women’s participation has been higher in nine of the 34 parliamentary/assembly elections held in the state since 1957. Female turnout had surpassed male turnout in Assam first during the 2016 assembly polls. Since then, women voters have shown better participation than their male counterparts, barring 2019 Lok Sabha polls when female and male turnouts were exactly the same. This translates into four of 33 Lok Sabha/assembly elections in the northeastern state having seen higher female polling percentage.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Crack Down on ISI-Linked Spy Module, 10 Arrested; Second Network Busted After Pan-India Surveillance Plot’Chokepoints Now A Global Anxiety’: Jaishankar Invokes West Asia Crisis At Indian Ocean ConferenceMathura: Boat Carrying Devotees Capsizes In Yamuna; 10 Bodies Recovered, Rescue Ops OnQatar Assures Reliable Energy Supply To India Amid West Asia Crisis After Hardeep Puri’s Doha VisitPakistan-ISI Spy Network Busted: 11 Arrested For Recce Of Military Sites Across North IndiaCentre Notifies CAPF General Administration Act 2026; Families, Retired Officers Protest in DelhiJustice Yashwant Varma Resigns Amid Cash Row — Why He Stepped Down On Day Of Impeachment Defence’Win A War Without Firing?’ CDS Anil Chauhan Explains Shift From Battlefield To Perception WarfareExercise Brahmastra: Indian army’s first firing from the AH-64E Apache attack helicoptersMarco Rubio’s India Visit Next Month After Talks With Vikram Misri in Washington123PhotostoriesFrom Vivek Dahiya getting emotional during Divyanka Tripathi’s pregnancy scan to pampering her midnight cravings, the couple share their journeyHow to differentiate between naturally and chemically ripened banana: FSSAI’s rulebook on ripening temperature for the fruit4 high-profile business family feuds that made headlines globally5 things that make Bandhavgarh National Park irresistible to nature loversFrom Yashasvi Jaiswal-Maddie Hamilton to Hardik Pandya-Mahieka Sharma: 5 Indian cricketers and their rumoured girlfriendsGold or platinum with diamonds: Which one actually makes you look richer?Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares secrets on how to use moong (whole, split with skin, and split skinless) for maximum benefitsShubman Gill’s new house in Juhu, Mumbai is a ₹20 crore luxury apartment with sea views, full-floor privacy and luxury amenitiesWant love that lasts? 5 phrases that can save your relationshipChild’s roti and sugar for school lunch goes viral: 13 school tiffin meals that all 90s kids can relate to123Hot PicksIran war ceasefirePAN Card application 2026Purple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingStephen Curry charityLaura Loomer reactionIndia Lebanon civilianRajouri grenade recoveryUS stock marketPAN Card application 2026Hinjewadi Metro lineUS inflationSchool Holidays in AprilLaken Snelling case
To woo women voters in Assam, BJP and Congress have pitched competing cash-transfers. In Assam, the BJP sankalp patra promised that the monthly direct bank transfer under Orunodoi scheme would be increased to Rs 3,000 for women and that it aims for 40 lakh “lakhpati baideos , a flagship initiative to economically empower women. Congress, in its manifesto for Assam, has promised an unconditional bank transfer of a stipulated amount to every woman’s account and Rs 50,000 for women entrepreneurs. At the national level, Narendra Modi govt has already moved to implement women’s quota in legislatures from the 2029 general elections. While the overall voter turnout touched an all-time high in Assam and Puducherry (85.9% and 89.9%, respectively), male voter turnout was also the highest ever in these two states. However, the 75.2% male voter turnout in Kerala was much lower than the all-time high of 80.5% recorded in 1987 assembly polls in the state. The massive participation by women electors in these states/UT is not a new phenomenon. In Puducherry, women turnouts have been higher than male turnouts in 18 of the total 30 Lok Sabha and assembly elections held since 1964. In Kerala, women’s participation has been higher in nine of the 34 parliamentary/assembly elections held in the state since 1957. Female turnout had surpassed male turnout in Assam first during the 2016 assembly polls. Since then, women voters have shown better participation than their male counterparts, barring 2019 Lok Sabha polls when female and male turnouts were exactly the same. This translates into four of 33 Lok Sabha/assembly elections in the northeastern state having seen higher female polling percentage.
