Patna: In a bid to woo women voters, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said prohibition would be imposed if he retained power after the coming assembly elections.

"If I retain power, I will impose a ban on liquor in the state," Nitish Kumar said at an official function here.

The announcement is likely to give a new twist to the campaigning by the alliance of the ruling Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the opposition combine of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha.

The chief minister also said that he had tried to fulfil whatever promises he made in the last two assembly polls.

"Nitish Kumar's track record is that he has implemented what he has promised for the sake of Bihar's development," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sharwan Kumar, considered close to Nitish Kumar, said.

In the last few years, the demand for prohibition in Bihar has been made by many, including politicians.

Women, mostly the poorest of the poor from dalit and backward castes, have been in the forefront of protests against increasing liquor consumption and demanding a ban on it.

Several studies said liquor was the main cause of atrocities and violence against women in the state.

(IANS)