The pension factor in Jharkhand has played a big role in Hemant Soren’s return to power. In Bihar too, with the help of the same pension factor, the NDA government is trying to fix its problems. There is a murmur of increase in the pension given to the elderly, widows and disabled people in Bihar.
On Tuesday, BJP MLA in the Assembly further intensified this murmur. Lalan Paswan said that inflation has increased, but there has been no increase in the pension amount. He demanded to give Rs 2000-2000 per month to every pensioner.
Role of pension in Hemant’s comeback
CSDS-Lokniti has released the post-election survey. In this survey, 52 percent of pensioners said that they would vote for India. Only 35 percent of pensioners were in favor of BJP.
Similarly, 41 percent people of Jharkhand had praised the pension. According to CSDS, due to the pension scheme, the votes of the poor and lower middle class were unilaterally in favor of Hemant.
49 percent BPL voters had said that they would vote in favor of India Alliance. In comparison, this figure in favor of NDA was only 38 percent. After the formation of the government in Jharkhand, Hemant started the Sarvajan Pension Scheme.
Because of this scheme, there are more than 26 lakh pensioners in Jharkhand, who are being given Rs 600 per month. After the elections, Hemant has promised to increase their amount to Rs 2500 per month.
Hemant Soren alliance has won 56 out of 81 seats in Jharkhand. The opposition alliance has been able to win only 24 seats. Jairam Mahato’s party has won one seat.
Assembly elections next year
Assembly elections are to be held in Bihar exactly one year from now. NDA alliance is currently in government here. Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister. To continue the victory in Maharashtra and Haryana, BJP is focusing more on Bihar.
In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP alliance had won 30 out of total 40 seats. NDA wants to maintain this lead in the assembly elections also. For this, it is important for NDA to keep the elderly and women simple.
Pension is a big political issue in Bihar
Pension has become a big political issue in Bihar. According to the state government, about 30 lakh people are included in the Chief Minister Pension Beneficiary Scheme, who are being given Rs 400 per month. According to government rules, there is a provision to give Rs 400 to people between 60 to 79 years of age and Rs 500 to people above 80 years of age.
Recently, Jan Suraj Party had laid siege to the government regarding this scheme. Party founder Prashant Kishore said that what will happen with Rs 400 in this era of inflation? PK had announced to increase its amount when the government comes.
It is being said that by the time of elections, the main opposition RJD may also make this an issue. This is the reason why NDA MLAs have already started raising the pension issue.
Voting on 243 seats, 122 is the magic figure
Elections are proposed for 243 seats of Bihar Assembly in October 2025. To form government in Bihar, victory on 122 seats is necessary. In the 2020 assembly elections, NDA won a total of 126 seats.
This time Bihar elections may be triangular. On one side is the NDA alliance of JDU, BJP, LJP (R) and HAM, while on the other side is the India alliance of RJD, Congress and ML.
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj is also preparing to contest 243 assembly seats. PK’s party is trying to make the entire election triangular. The party got 10 percent votes in the recent by-elections.