One crore govt jobs & more: NDA releases manifesto for Bihar polls; key promises in ‘Sankalp Patra’

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday released its manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, pledging to create one crore jobs, boost industrial growth, and expand infrastructure across the state. The document was unveiled in Patna by chief minister Nitish Kumar alongside BJP president JP Nadda, Union ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan, and RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha.

BJP’s Bihar chief Dilip Jaiswal described the manifesto as “the guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the trust of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar,” saying that the alliance partners symbolised unity like the “Pandavas” of the Mahabharata. “The people of Bihar trust the guarantees of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar,” he said, adding that the public would “never forgive Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav” for the “ruin of Bihar”.


The alliance’s manifesto centres on job creation, women’s empowerment, and massive investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

Key promises in the manifesto

• 1 crore government jobs and employment opportunities
• Mega Skill Centres in every district to train youth for global industries
• Sports City and Centres of Excellence for sports development
• 10 new industrial parks and factories in every district
• 100 MSME parks and 50,000 new cottage industries
• Chipset, Semiconductor, and Manufacturing Parks to boost IT and tech sectors
• Women Employment Scheme to support 22 lakh women and create 1 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’
• Mission Crorepati for women entrepreneurs
• Kisan Samman Nidhi to rise from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 annually
• Fish farmers’ aid doubled to Rs 9,000
• MSP guarantee for all crops
• Rs 9 lakh crore investment in pre-infrastructure
• Residential schools for Scheduled Caste students in every division
• Rs 2,000 monthly support for SC/ST students in higher education
• Up to Rs 10 lakh aid for EBC students
• Free education for poor children and fortified mid-day meals
• 50 lakh new homes, free rations, and 125 units of free electricity
• Rs 5,000 crore to upgrade key schools
• 7 expressways and 3,600 km of new rail tracks
• Medical city and medical colleges in every district
• Development of Sitamarhi as a spiritual heritage city
• International airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and metro rail in four new cities

Union home minister Amit Shah, addressing an election rally in Samastipur earlier this week, said the NDA’s five-party alliance would work “like the Pandavas” to ensure Bihar’s progress and prevent the return of “jungle raj” under the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Shah said, “The elections are an opportunity to make Bihar free from jungle raj. NDA’s victory in Bihar is certain.”

The manifesto’s economic pledges are also seen as a response to the Mahagathbandhan’s promises of government jobs.

What Mahagathbandhan's manifesto promised

On Tuesday, the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan unveiled its manifesto, “Tejashwi ka Prann,”. The alliance, fronted by chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav.

A key pledge is to pass a law within 20 days of government formation guaranteeing at least one government job per family. The manifesto committed to restoring the Old Pension Scheme for government employees and regularising contractual workers. Under the Mai-Behin Maan Yojana, women will receive Rs 2,500 monthly for five years, alongside 200 units of free electricity for every household.

What Mahagathbandhan promised

• Within 20 days of forming the INDIA bloc government, it pledges to pass a law ensuring one government job for at least one member of every family in the state.
• The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will be restored for government employees.
• Mahagathbandhan has pledged to put the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on hold and ensure that the management of Waqf properties becomes more transparent and welfare-oriented.
• The manifesto also promises to raise the current reservation for the Most Backward Classes in Panchayat and Municipal bodies from 20 percent to 30 percent. For Scheduled Castes, the quota will be increased from 16 percent to 20 percent, with a proportionate hike in reservation for Scheduled Tribes as well.
• Under the Mai-Behin Maan Yojana, women will receive Rs 2,500 per month starting December 1 -- amounting to Rs 30,000 per year for the next five years. In addition, every household will get 200 units of free electricity each month.
• "Employment guarantee scheme to be implemented across Bihar within 20 months of INDIA bloc govt formation."
• The alliance promised free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh for every individual under the Jan Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
• "Bihar prohibition law has completely failed; INDIA bloc will remove ban on toddy if voted to power."
• Jeevika Didis to be given permanent government job status with a monthly remuneration of Rs 30,000.
• All crops will be bought at MSP, with revived Mandis and Market Committees. The APMC Act will be restored.
• Mahagathbandhan announced in its manifesto that IT parks will be established across the state.
• Contractual government employees to be regularised.
• Every family will receive 200 units of free electricity.
• The management of Buddhist temples located in Bodh Gaya will be handed over to the people of the Buddhist community.

The Bihar Assembly elections will take place in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14. The NDA hopes its blend of “guarantees and trust” will resonate with voters seeking stability, jobs, and modernisation.
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