The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had released its manifesto for the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections, unveiling an ambitious agenda centred on job creation, women’s empowerment, agricultural support, and large-scale infrastructure expansion.
The ‘Sankalp Patra’ was launched in Patna by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP president JP Nadda, and other alliance leaders.
BJP’s Bihar chief Dilip Jaiswal had called the manifesto “PM Modi’s guarantee and Nitish Kumar’s trust,” asserting that the NDA partners are united “like the Pandavas.” He hit out at the Opposition, accusing the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan of “ruining Bihar.”
Currently, Nitish Kumar-led NDA looks set for a massive mandate, crossing the 190-mark, as both the JD(U) and the BJP raced past 80 seats less than three hours after counting began for the assembly elections. Junior partners – Chirag Paswan’s LJP (ahead in 23 seats), former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (ahead in four seats), and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM – have also opened their accounts.
The Mahagadbandhan or Grand Alliance presented a sorry state, with the bloc now ahead in 50 seats after gaining a lead in over 90 seats. Of the 50 seats, Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD is leading in 35 seats, with the Congress ahead in five seats.
Election strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, meanwhile, has failed to open an account, the data showed.
NDA Manifesto: Key Promises at a Glance
Employment & Youth Development
- 1 crore government jobs and employment opportunities
- Mega Skill Centres in every district for global-standard training
- Sports City & Centres of Excellence
- Factories in every district
- 100 MSME parks and 50,000 cottage industries
- Chipset, semiconductor, and manufacturing parks
Women’s Empowerment
- Women Employment Scheme for 22 lakh women
- Creation of 1 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’
- Mission Crorepati for women entrepreneurs
Farmers & Rural Economy
- Kisan Samman Nidhi raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 per year
- Fish farmers’ aid doubled to Rs 9,000
- MSP guarantee for all crops
Education & Social Welfare
- Free education for poor children
- Fortified mid-day meals
- Residential schools for SC students in every division
- Rs 2,000 monthly aid for SC/ST students in higher education
- Up to Rs 10 lakh assistance for EBC students
Housing, Power & Basic Services
- 50 lakh new homes
- Free rations
- 125 units of free electricity
- Rs 5,000 crore to upgrade major schools
Infrastructure Push
- 7 expressways, 3,600 km of new rail tracks
- Medical colleges in every district
- Development of Medical City
- International airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnia, Bhagalpur
- Metro rail in four cities
- Sitamarhi to be developed as a spiritual heritage city
Union home minister Amit Shah said the NDA would work like “the Pandavas” to keep Bihar free from “jungle raj.”
What Mahagathbandhan Promised: ‘Tejashwi Ka Prann’
The RJD-Congress-Left Mahagathbandhan released its manifesto earlier this week, led by CM face Tejashwi Yadav.
Top Promises
- One government job per family, to be passed into law within 20 days of forming the government
- Old Pension Scheme (OPS) restored
- Contractual employees to be regularised
-
Mai-Behin Maan Yojana:
- Women to get Rs 2,500 per month for five years
- 200 units of free electricity per household
-
Reservation hike:
- MBC quota in local bodies: 20% → 30%
- SC quota: 16% → 20%
- Proportionate rise for STs
- Free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh per person
- MSP procurement for all crops; revival of mandis & APMC Act
- Jeevika Didis to get permanent government job status with Rs 30,000 monthly pay
- IT parks across the state
- Waqf reforms and management overhaul
- Removal of toddy ban
- Buddhist temples in Bodh Gaya to be handed over to the Buddhist community
The NDA banked on its mix of jobs, welfare, and infrastructure – now its time to see if the promises are met in time.