Intersecting Barriers: Gender, Religion and the Political Under-representation of Muslim Women in Local Governance in Bihar

Women’s reservation policies have substantially expanded female political participation in India, yet the representation of Muslim women continues to remain disproportionately low across levels of governance. Drawing on detailed administrative data from the 2016 and 2021 Panchayat elections in Bihar, this study examines the institutional, structural and behavioural mechanisms that shape Muslim women’s political inclusion. Using a supply-side framework, the analysis formalizes two key determinants of contest entry, past co-ethnic competitiveness and demographic potential, and shows how these factors jointly influence women’s decisions to contest elections. The results highlight the central role of institutional design and strategic expectations in shaping minority women’s political agency, even in communities where demographic conditions appear favourable for political representation.