India, Nov. 17 -- Let's first get the caveats out of the way. Some are calling the Rs.10,000 deposits into the bank accounts of 14.1 million women a bribe. There are legitimate questions about the ethics of a cash deposit scheme launched two months before a crucial election. And, without a doubt, the deposits raise concerns about the Election Commission's credibility and impartiality.

But equally, it is clear that it is women who swung the vote for the NDA alliance, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the BJP, that has swept back into power, winning 202 out of 243 assembly seats.

Nitish is now set to take the oath of office for the 10th time. As the results were coming in, the JD (U) handle tweeted: "The trust of Bihar's women triump...