NDA and Grand Alliance have started a race of promises by releasing the manifesto for Bihar elections 2025. Both have focused on employment, women’s help, free electricity, farmers’ help and health. NDA will provide 125 units of electricity, while Grand Alliance will provide 200 units.
Politics in Bihar Assembly elections 2025 is no longer limited to just allegations and counter-allegations. Now the “war of promises” is in the field. On one hand, NDA released its manifesto in the name of Sankalp Patra, while on the other hand, Grand Alliance made 25 promises to the public through ‘Tejaswi Pran’. Interestingly, many major issues are common in the manifestos of both the alliances. Employment, financial help to women, free electricity, assistance to farmers, and health security, both have played a gamble to woo the public in these five areas.
Both gave guarantee of government job
The biggest focus in both the manifestos is “employment”. NDA has promised that 1 crore government jobs and employment opportunities will be created in Bihar. At the same time, the Grand Alliance has gone a step further and said, “Employment Act will be brought within 20 days of the formation of the government.” Both the alliances know that unemployment is the biggest problem of Bihar and hence both have made it the center of their ‘election pitch’.
women empowerment
NDA has talked about making 1 crore women Lakhpati Didi under ‘Mahila Mission Crorepati Yojana’. At the same time, the Grand Alliance has announced to provide monthly assistance of ₹ 2,500 to women under ‘Mai-Bahin Maan Yojana’. It is clear in both the manifestos that full emphasis has been laid on economic empowerment to tap the women vote bank.
Free electricity – not an election issue, now a race for free electricity
NDA has said that every house will be given 125 units of free electricity. Whereas the Grand Alliance has increased this figure and promised 200 units of free electricity. Now the contest in the elections has become not just about “who will provide electricity” but “who will provide more units”.
Financial assistance for farmers, different names, same goal
To provide relief to the farmers, both have announced similar schemes. The NDA has promised to provide ₹9,000 annual assistance to farmers under the Karpoori Thakur Kisan Samman Nidhi. Whereas the Grand Alliance has talked about providing direct financial assistance to the farmers through various schemes. Both manifestos claim to provide an “economic security blanket” to farmers.
Free treatment and health insurance
NDA has announced free treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Making it even bigger, the Grand Alliance has said that every person will be given free health insurance up to ₹ 25 lakh. Both the alliances want to convey that “no one will remain sick, everyone will get treatment.”
Special focus on education and youth
The NDA has talked about mega skill centers and global skilling hubs in every district, while the grand alliance has announced free tablets to students from classes 8 to 12 and opening of new universities. That is, both the alliances are presenting new promises to connect the youth with employment and education.
Shared perspective on housing and infrastructure
The NDA talked about construction of 50 lakh pucca houses, while the grand alliance announced departments for migrant laborers and new housing schemes for the poor. Both the alliances are trying their best to woo poor and rural voters.