Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, and Prashant Kishor.
Credit: PTI Photos
The political landscape of Bihar is filled with a spate of promises ahead of the Assembly elections in November. From employment guarantees and financial schemes to social security initiatives and the much-debated liquor policy, the state's three leading faces— Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor are holding back nothing to woo voters.
Nitish Kumar relies on welfare expansion
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar.
Credit; DH Pool Photo
Leading from the front is Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, the veteran JD(U) leader, who is banking heavily on his tried and tested welfare politics. Issuing a series of election promises, Kumar assured to enhance protection for marginalised communities, women, and jobless youth.
1. Nitish Kumar increased the pensions of widows, elderly, and disabled to Rs 1,100 a month, covering almost around 1.11 crore individuals, under the Social Security Pension Scheme, in the month of July this year.
2. Women are at the core of his politics. Women entrepreneurs will be given an initial Rs 10,000, followed by Rs 2 lakh in the second phase, under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.
This women welfare scheme was launched by him in the month of August this year.
3. Besides this, one of his big promises for the Bihar voters include free electricity up to 125 units to all domestic consumers in the state, which got effective from August 1, this year.
Tejashwi Yadav's 'job for every family' pitch
Tejashwi Yadav
Credit: PTI Photo
On the opposite end, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav is trying to woo voters with employment guarantees.
1. The Leader of Opposition announced that his government, if elected to power, would enact a "Special Job/Employment Act" within 20 days of taking office—providing one government job for each family in the state within 20 months.
2. Tejashwi renewed his previous commitment of 200 units of free power to every family, terming it a gesture to alleviate "exorbitant power bills and faulty prepaid meters."
Prashant Kishor's populist push and bold stance
Prashant Kishor
Credit: PTI Photo
Adding momentum to the Bihar election trend is Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor. Famous for his acerbic media persona and populist appeal, Kishor's agenda is radical and bold.
1. He has promised to lift the liquor ban within hours of coming to power, contending that prohibition has not worked and merely benefited corruption.
2. He also announced Rs 2,000 monthly stipend for every person above 60 to assist them to cover daily expenses.
The war of promises has begun
With each leader unveiling a basket of populist pledges, Bihar’s election narrative is increasingly being shaped by welfare economics and social justice. Whether it is Nitish’s welfare model, Tejashwi’s ambitious job guarantee, or Kishor’s reformist schemes, only time will tell whose guarantees resonate the most with the voters of Bihar.