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. 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.