40% of new Bihar MLAs have no college degree, women comprise 12% of total House strength
New Delhi (PTI): Around 12 per cent of the newly elected MLAs in Bihar are women, a marginal increase from the last polls, while around 40 per cent members in the new assembly do not have college degrees, according to a report by think-tank PRS Legislative Research.
The report also showed that the number of MLAs aged more than 55 years has increased following the Bihar assembly elections.
The ruling NDA decimated the Mahagathbandhan by winning 202 seats in the 243-member House to retain power in Bihar. The scale of the victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) can be gauged from the fact that its two main constituents-- BJP and JD(U) -- clocked a nearly 85 per cent strike rate in 101 seats each they had contested.
An analysis of the results by PRS Legislative Research showed the 243-member assembly will now have 29 women MLAs, which is around 12 per cent of the total strength of the House. The previous assembly had 26 women members.
Of the 29 women elected to the assembly, 13 are aged between 25 and 39 years, and nine between 40 and 54 years. About half of them -- 15 MLAs -- do not have college degrees.
Overall, the average age of the assembly has increased. The percentage of MLAs aged 55 or above increased from 34 per cent in 2015 to 40 per cent in 2020, and to 46 per cent in 2025.
MLAs with post-graduate degrees in the new assembly increased to 28 per cent compared to 23 per cent in 2020. The proportion of those with qualifications up to higher secondary level increased to 40 per cent from 38 per cent in 2020.
Around 32 per cent of the newly elected MLAs are graduates, compared to 40 per cent in the previous assembly.
Politics, social work and agriculture are the most common professions among the new MLAs.
Around 60 per cent of the recently elected legislators have listed politics and social work as their profession. Agriculture is the profession of 45 per cent of the new MLAs, 31 per cent have listed business as their profession, while five per cent are salaried professionals, the report said.
Around 58 per cent of the sitting MLAs who fought the elections won. The PRS report said that out of the 250 MLAs who were part of the previous assembly, including those who won bypolls, 192 contested the 2025 elections, and 111 of them secured victories.
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111 killed, 72 injured as storm, rain batter UP; relief work underway
Lucknow (PTI): At least 111 people were killed and 72 injured after a strong storm and heavy rain pounded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and damaging houses, an official statement said on Thursday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives and damage caused by the unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday and directed officials to ensure relief reaches the affected families within 24 hours.
In a statement, the Relief Commissioner's office said, "Due to bad weather on May 13, including storms, rain, hailstorm and lightning, reports of 111 deaths were received from 26 districts. 72 persons were injured, 170 livestock losses and damage to 227 houses have been reported in the state."
It said Adityanath has directed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify the incidents "with full sensitivity" and ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families within 24 hours while establishing direct communication with them and extending other necessary help.
The commissioner's office said it is continuously monitoring the situation through direct coordination with district officials, and necessary funds are being made available to districts.
According to a list issued by the Prayagraj district administration, till morning, 17 deaths were reported due to the storm and rain. As reports pour in from other areas, the district administration said that a total of 24 deaths have come to the fore in Wednesday's incidents.
In Bhadohi, district administration sources said at least 16 people died in storm-related incidents. Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said trees and electric poles were uprooted in several areas, while many houses were damaged in the storm.
Fatehpur Additional District Magistrate Avinash Tripathi said nine people were killed and 16 were injured in storm-related incidents in the district.
"Eight people, including five women, died in Khaga tehsil, while a woman died after a wall of a house collapsed in Sadar tehsil," he said.
In Pratapgarh, four people died in separate incidents of wall and cemented shed collapses and lightning strikes amid strong winds and rain, officials said.
Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhukar said Bhim Yadav (25) died after he was trapped under the debris of a cemented shed that collapsed in Ojha Ka Purwa village in the Lalganj Kotwali area. He said Bhushan Pandey (56) died after a wall collapsed in Sari Swami village under the Baghrai police station area.
Bhukar said Shanti Devi (46) of Narangpur village and Lal Bahadur (44) of Chhatrapur Shivala Raghna village also died in storm-related incidents.
In Kanpur Dehat district, two persons died in rain-related incidents, the officials said.
Police sources said a 19-year-old woman, Ruchi, died after being struck by lightning in Bhauthari village under the Rasulabad area while standing under a neem tree with goats during heavy rain. Several goats also died in the incident.
A 60-year-old man standing nearby was injured, they added.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Dushyant Kumar said reports regarding human and livestock losses have been sought from local officials, and financial assistance will be provided as per government rules.
In Deoria, Komal Yadav (62), a resident of Bhimpur Gaura village, died after being struck by lightning, district administration sources said. Two others were injured in the incident.
In another incident, Ramnath Prasad (65), a resident of Neruari village, died in a lightning strike.
In Sonbhadra district, Madhav Singh (38) died after being trapped under a tree uprooted during the rain and the storm.
Adityanath directed the district magistrates and officials of various departments to visit the affected areas and provide all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
He also instructed the officials to remain alert and ordered the revenue and agriculture departments, along with insurance companies, to conduct a survey of the damage and submit a report to the government.
