The grand alliance led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto titled ‘Bihar ka Tejasvi Pledge’, promising to pass a law to provide a government job to one member of every family in the state within 20 days of government formation.
According to the manifesto, under the ‘Mai-Bahan Maan Yojana’, women will get financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month from December 1 for the next five years.
The opposition alliance had promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). OPS has been on the Congress agenda since the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh reinstated it soon after assuming power. Congress had also included it in its manifesto for Haryana Assembly elections.
The grand alliance has promised to keep the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in abeyance and make the management of Waqf properties “welfare-oriented and transparent”.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament earlier this year after extensive debate, although several opposition parties opposed it. The President approved this bill on 5 April.
Apart from the promises made to religious minorities, the management of the Buddhist temples located in Bodh Gaya will be handed over to the people of the Buddhist community.
The election promises also include increasing the existing 20 percent reservation for extremely backward classes in panchayat and municipal bodies to 30 percent. The manifesto said that this limit for Scheduled Castes (SC) will be increased from 16 percent to 20 percent, and a proportionate increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) will also be ensured.
According to the manifesto, each family will get 200 units of free electricity. Farmers will be given purchase guarantee. Distribution of all crops at minimum support price will be ensured, and mandi and market committees will be revived. Mandis will be opened at division, sub-division and block level. APMC Act will be re-enacted.
The alliance promised that free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh will be provided to each person under the Jan Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
On the occasion of the release of ‘Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran’, RJD leader and Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM candidate and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni, Congress leader Pawan Kheda and CPI (ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya were present.
Congress leader Pawan Kheda said that the opposition alliance was the first to announce its chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav and also released its manifesto first. Taking a dig at the ruling NDA, Khera described their election promises as “jumla”.
Kheda said, “The grand alliance was the first to announce its chief ministerial candidates. It also released its manifesto first. It is their ‘jumla’, whereas it is our ‘prana’. This shows who is serious about Bihar. We had decided from the very first day what we will do for Bihar. We have to bring Bihar back on track. Today is a very auspicious day because the state of Bihar was waiting for this ‘prana’.”
Before the 2025 elections, the main contest is being seen in Bihar between the National Democratic Alliance and the Grand Alliance.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal-led grand alliance includes the Congress Party, Dipankar Bhattacharya-led Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).
The NDA includes Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Apart from this, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj has also staked claim on all the 243 seats in the state. Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on 14 November.