With a week to go into first phase of Bihar polls, the manifestos of the two main alliances, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), made competitive promises to the electorate.
The NDA’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ banks on economic expansion, infrastructure, and industrialisation, while the grand alliance’s 'Tejashwi Pran Patra' rests on welfare guarantees, job security, and state-backed support for women, farmers, and workers. Both sides have something for all social groups, which in fact also reveals the condition of the state where development is still lagging behind most of the Hindi heartland states.
With the state facing migration in search of better opportunities and jobs, both sides have tried to address the issue in their own way.
At the heart of the election campaign in Bihar is the promise to provide jobs for the people. In a joint manifesto released by leaders including CM Nitish Kumar, BJP president JP Nadda, and Chirag Paswan, the NDA promised to create one crore jobs over the next five years.
In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan’s offer is bigger - a government job for one member of every family and a law within 20 days of taking power.
The promises by both blocs have resonance among the people. The NDA is in power for 20 years now. The electorate has dealt with their system for two decades and are aware of the strengths and shortcomings of their delivery. But the grand alliance has been out of power, and Tejashwi, despite his popularity, is untested in governance, independently. His youthful appeal against Nitish’s experienced but ageing leadership would be tested on this key issue.
Women and youth
For the record, there are 23 lakh government employees in the state. Now, to expand it to one crore or 2.7 crore (based on the number of households in the state), the next government would have to expand the definition of government to include more areas, consider even tertiary sectors to upgrade their existing posts.
If the youth would be the key constituent being targeted by both key alliances, the second but equally significant constituent is women. The NDA’s women-focused agenda is built around Mission Crorepati Didi, which aims to create one crore women entrepreneurs. Under the Chief Minister Mahila Rozgar Yojana, women will receive up to Rs 2 lakh in financial support for self-employment. Another initiative will train women to become “Lakhpati Didis,” earning at least Rs 1 lakh annually.
The Tejashwi Yadav-led grand alliance is promising Mai Bahin Maan Yojana with direct income support of Rs 2,500 per month. It also pledges to make Jeevika Didis permanent employees with Rs 30,000 monthly salaries and waive their loans.
Both manifestos seek to empower women economically — the NDA through entrepreneurship and skill-building, and the Mahagathbandhan through income security and employment guarantees.
Among other promises, the NDA grouping aims to take industrial investment to Rs 50 lakh crore, 10 new industrial parks, and manufacturing units in every district to boost job creation. It has also pledged to transform Mega Skill Centres into Global Skilling Centres, creating 30 lakh jobs in sectors like IT, semiconductors, and food processing. A Start Ashok Entrepreneurship Mission will train 10 lakh young entrepreneurs.
The Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, promises to make contractual and outsourced employees permanent, expand skill-based employment in IT, SEZs, agro-industries, and renewable energy, and enhance MGNREGA wages from Rs 255 to Rs 300 a day, while extending the work limit from 100 to 200 days.
In the case of agriculture, the NDA’s rural blueprint focuses on growth through productivity and exports. Its Made in Bihar plan aims to double agricultural exports, while a ₹1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Mission will develop cold chains, food processing units, and irrigation networks. It also proposes MSP-based procurement, along with new dairy, fishery, and horticulture missions.
The Mahagathbandhan promises a stronger state role in rural welfare, guaranteeing MSP for all crops, reviving mandis and market committees, and setting up procurement centres from division to block levels. It also guaranteed MSP procurement for all crops and revival of mandis.
The NDA’s development agenda is driven by industrial and infrastructural growth. It has pledged seven new expressways, metro rail in four cities beyond Patna, and 10 industrial parks. The plan includes 100 MSME parks under the Vocal for Local scheme, a Defence Corridor, and a Green Energy Manufacturing Hub. A world-class medicity and medical colleges in every district also feature prominently.
The Mahagathbandhan’s infrastructure roadmap includes five expressways, a 2,000-acre Educational City, and new industrial clusters. It promises investment in renewable energy, tourism, logistics, and urban development, positioning infrastructure as a key source of job creation and regional growth.
Social welfare
On the social welfare front, the grand alliance promises the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Rs 1,500 monthly pension for widows and senior citizens, with a Rs 200 annual increment, Rs 3,000 monthly pension for persons with disabilities, and will top that up with 200 units of free electricity for all households.
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Both sides have promised free education up to postgraduation, with exam and form fee waivers and free travel for students attending competitive exams. Tejashwi has also promised women’s colleges in every subdivision and degree colleges in all 136 blocks currently lacking one. The Grand alliance also promises to send 200 SC/ST students abroad for higher education.
The NDA promises free education from KG to PG, new Global Skill Hubs, and AI-enabled universities to make Bihar a talent centre.
In healthcare, both alliances emphasise accessibility. The NDA promises a world-class medicity and district-level medical colleges, while the Mahagathbandhan pledges free health insurance up to ₹25 lakh per person, super-speciality district hospitals, and CGHS-like medical coverage for government employees.
The NDA promises ₹10 lakh assistance to members of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and a commission under a retired Supreme Court judge to assess welfare measures.
The Mahagathbandhan proposes an EBC Atrocities Prevention Act and higher reservations — 30% for EBCs, 20% for SCs, and proportional increases for STs. It also offers foreign scholarships for 200 SC/ST students and strengthened representation in local bodies.