The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to release its joint manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, October 31. Senior leaders from all constituent parties of the alliance are expected to attend the event.
Elections for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will take place in two phases, on November 6 and 11, while bye-elections for eight seats across seven states and Union Territories will also be held on November 11. The counting of votes for both will be conducted on November 14.
The ruling NDA in Bihar comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP-RV), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
The Opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
On Tuesday, the Mahagathbandhan unveiled its election manifesto titled “Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran”, outlining key promises aimed at employment generation, welfare schemes, and social justice.
The alliance vowed to pass a law within 20 days of forming the government to ensure at least one government job for every family in the state.
As part of the Mai-Behin Maan Yojana, the manifesto promises women financial assistance of ₹2,500 per month, starting from December 1 and continuing for the next five years.
The Opposition alliance has also pledged to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a long-standing demand of government employees.
The Congress party has previously implemented OPS in Himachal Pradesh under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and included it in its manifesto for the Haryana Assembly polls as well.
The Mahagathbandhan further promised to put the Waqf (Amendment) Act on hold and ensure that the management of Waqf properties becomes “welfare-oriented and transparent.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was passed by Parliament earlier this year and received presidential assent on April 5, had drawn opposition from several political parties.
In a move aimed at religious minorities, the alliance also vowed to transfer the management of Buddhist temples in Bodh Gaya to members of the Buddhist community.
Also Read : Mahagathbandhan unveils 'Tejashwi Pran Patra' in Bihar
The manifesto also focuses on expanding reservation benefits. It proposes increasing the existing 20 per cent reservation for the Most Backward Classes in Panchayat and Municipal bodies to 30 per cent.
The quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs) would be raised from 16 per cent to 20 per cent, with a proportionate increase for Scheduled Tribes (STs) as well.
Addressing household welfare, the Mahagathbandhan pledged to provide every family with 200 units of free electricity.
For farmers, the alliance promised guaranteed procurement of all crops at the minimum support price (MSP), revival of the Mandi and Market Committee system, and reopening of mandis at divisional, subdivision, and block levels under a reinstated APMC Act.
In the health sector, the manifesto promises free health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per individual under the Jan Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister candidate and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani, Congress leader Pawan Khera, and CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya were present at the manifesto’s release.
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