In a significant move ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the opposition Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), comprising RJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(ML), CPI(M), and VIP, has officially unveiled its joint election manifesto. Titled 'Bihar ka Tejaswi Pran' (Bihar's Resolute Pledge), the manifesto outlines a comprehensive vision for the state, with a strong emphasis on social welfare, employment, and economic development, while the launch event saw the presence of prominent Mahagathbandhan leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Mukesh Sahani, Pawan Khera, and Dipankar Bhattacharya.
Ambitious Employment and Permanent Status Pledges
One of the most striking promises in the manifesto is the commitment to provide a government job to one member from every family. The alliance has stated that if elected, an act to facilitate this would be introduced within 20 days of government formation, addressing a critical concern among Bihar's youth. On top of that, all Jeevika Didis (women self-help group members) are promised permanent status and classification as government employees, with a fixed monthly salary of Rs 30,000. Similarly, all contractual workers across various departments are assured permanent employment, a move expected to bring stability to a large segment of the workforce. ASHA and ASHA facilitators will be given contractual employee status with a monthly honorarium of. Rs 10,000, while school cooks and Mamta workers will receive a minimum of Rs 6,000 monthly.
The Mahagathbandhan has also made significant pledges regarding public welfare and social security, while a key highlight is the promise of 200 units of free electricity for every family, aiming to ease the financial burden on households. Poor families will be provided with gas cylinders at a subsidized rate of Rs 500. For women, the 'Mai-Bahin Maan Yojana' promises financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month starting December 1, along with free travel facilities, for which 2,000 new electric buses will be procured by the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation. Widows and senior citizens are promised a monthly pension of Rs 1,500, with an annual increase of Rs 200, while differently-abled individuals (Divyangjans) will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000.
Reforms in Education, Agriculture, and Healthcare
The manifesto also focuses on student welfare, promising the abolition of application and examination fees for competitive exams, along with free travel facilities for students to examination centers, while a women's college will be established in every sub-division. In the agricultural sector, farmers are guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, ensuring better incomes. The daily wage under MNREGA will be increased from Rs 255 to Rs 300, and the number of workdays expanded from 100 to 200. The alliance has also pledged to provide free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh per person, aiming to make healthcare accessible to all.
Reservation, Minority Rights, and Governance
Addressing social justice, the Mahagathbandhan has vowed to increase the 50% reservation limit based on population अनुपात (proportion). Reservation for Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) in Panchayat and urban local bodies will be increased from the current 20% to 30%. The manifesto also pledges to protect the constitutional rights of all minority communities and ensure transparent management of Waqf properties. Reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, a long-standing demand of government employees, is also a prominent promise, while for self-employment and economic upliftment, communities like Nai, Kumhar, Badhai, Mochi, and Mali will receive an interest-free lump sum of Rs 5 lakh for five years. Also, teachers, health workers, and other service personnel will be posted within a 70 km radius of their home district.
Leaders Express Commitment
During the manifesto release, Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Yadav, stated, “We don't just aim to form a government, but to build Bihar. ” He emphasized that the manifesto serves as a roadmap for Bihar's development. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani also reiterated their commitment to fulfilling all promises, calling the manifesto the foundation for building a new Bihar, while with these ambitious pledges, the Mahagathbandhan has presented a comprehensive agenda to the Bihar electorate, aiming to bring about significant changes across the state's social, economic, and administrative landscape.
