Hindustan Times’ Abhishek Singh speaks with veteran pollster Yashwant Deshmukh on the surprising outcome of Bihar elections. Deshmukh explains how female voters, influenced by long-term schemes like the Das Hazari Yojana, created a decisive edge for Nitish Kumar, highlighting a double-digit margin in their support. He also discusses the impact of Prashant Kishore’s campaign, the phenomenon of bipolarization in voter behavior, and the role of government schemes in shaping election results. Deshmukh emphasizes that unemployment remains a critical issue and cautions against overreliance on short-term promises. A detailed analysis of demographics, strategy, and voter psychology in Bihar’s political landscape.