RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav
Credit: X/@RJDForIndia
Patna: A day before the poll notification was issued for the first phase of election, Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav announced that if voted to power, he would bring in a legislation within 20 days of assuming power which would ensure one government job to every family in the State.
“There will be no home without a government job,” asserted Tejashwi, adding that he had promised jobs to the unemployed during the 2020 Assembly polls too. “And when I became the Deputy Chief Minister from August 2022 to January 2024, I ensured 5 lakh persons got jobs in Bihar in different government departments. Imagine how many jobs would have been provided had I been given a chance to govern for five years,” said the RJD scion, who is also the undeclared Chief Ministerial candidate of the Mahagatbandhan.
“Any family in Bihar, which does not have a government job, will get one through the new legislation. Within 20 days of assuming power, we will ensure this legislation is brought in. And within 20 months, we will ensure that there is not a single home in Bihar which does not have a government job,” asserted Tejashwi.
Game changer
Tejashwi’s major announcement is significant in the sense that it could be a game-changer and have wide repercussions in the ensuing poll.
“Trust me. This is Tejashwi Yadav, making you a pledge. This is no jumlebaazi (false promise). Our men have studied this concept. This goal can be achieved through a strong will power. I will ensure you economic justice, besides social justice,” said Tejashwi, dwelling at length on how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar copied his earlier announcements and doled out several sops from hike in old age pension to free electricity (up to 125 units of power consumption).
Tejashwi’s announcement comes just a day before the first phase of poll notification is issued on October 10. The two-phase election is slated for November 6 and November 11. Counting for votes will take place on November 14. The term of the 243-member Assembly ends on November 22.
Blast from the past
It was Tejashwi’s promise of providing jobs during the 2020 Assembly polls, which helped the RJD emerge the single largest party, although he missed the CM’s chair by a wafer-thin margin as the NDA crossed the half-way mark of 122 seats, while the Mahagatbandhan was restricted to 110 seats in a fierce contest.