Patna: With less than ten days left for the Bihar Assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, on October 28 released its manifesto titled ‘Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran’, outlining key promises ahead of the polls.
Soon after the release, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on the alliance, calling it a “bunch of lies”. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad called RJD a “school of corruption.”
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Prasad said those promising a “new vision” for Bihar are themselves facing charges under IPC Section 420.
“…Those who are claiming to give a new vision to Bihar are accused of 420. We did not say this. 15 days ago, the Delhi court framed charges. The trial is about to take place. They are also accused in land for jobs scam. RJD is a school of corruption. This is their past, this is their present, and this will also be their future,” Prasad said.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan also criticised the manifesto, and said its promise to provide one government job per family is unrealistic and ‘not possible’.
“When you do not want to come to power, then what is the harm in lying. Right now, he has talked about one government job in the family. If he starts lying, he will promise government jobs to every person. He is so expert in lying… everyone knows that this is not possible,” Paswan said.
BJP leader Rituraj Sinha called the manifesto a “bunch of lies” and attacked the Mahagathbandhan CM face, Tejashwi Yadav, over his educational qualifications.
Sinha took a dig at the “Mai Bahin Maan Yojana”, one of several promises in the manifesto while speaking to ANI.
“The manifesto of the Mahagathbandhan is a bunch of lies…The people under whose rule women in Bihar were unable to leave their homes are now talking about the Mai Bahin Maan Yojana. The people who failed in the 9th grade are now speaking on the vision of Bihar…RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav should answer: from 1990-2005, which manifesto have they implemented in Bihar?… Bihar will not vote for the RJD in the elections…”
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP’s co-incharge for the Bihar elections, Keshav Prasad Maurya, called the manifesto a “bunch of lies,” and said its promise of providing government jobs to over 2.5 crore youth is impossible and aimed at misleading voters.
“The manifesto released by Mahagathbandhan is a bunch of lies. No state can give government jobs to more than 2.5 crore youth…This is a fake announcement and the public has rejected their false promises and they will also reject the Mahagathbandhan also,” Maurya said.
Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi accused the Mahagathbandhan of trying to mislead voters.
“…What is their accountability? If they were in power, it would be a different matter. They know they will not come to power… Before 2004, their parents were in power. How much migration did they stop?…They just want to mislead the people of Bihar,” Manjhi said.
Union Minister Nityanand Rai questioned RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s promise to free the state from corruption, and said that those convicted in scams cannot talk about clean governance.
“Today the ‘ghamandiya’ alliance has launched its manifesto. Tejashwi Yadav says we will free Bihar from corruption. The person who is himself corrupt and has been convicted of various scams, how can he say that he will free Bihar from corruption? During the 15 years of ‘jungle raj’, there were many scams, crimes, and hatred…The RJD government has always taken Bihar away from development…You are just misleading the people of Bihar,” Rai said.
Meanwhile, Mahagathbandhan leaders called the manifesto “historic”.
Congress leader Pawan Khera called the manifesto “historic” and one prepared after “careful deliberations” and consultations with people across society.
“The manifesto is historic. It has been prepared after careful deliberations. Our leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Rahul Gandhi, instructed us to declare only what we can achieve… We held discussions with various sections of society, and then the manifesto was prepared, ” Khera told ANI.
RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari said the Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto reflects its commitment to bringing happiness and progress to Bihar, adding that people see Tejashwi Yadav as the state’s future and have placed their trust in his leadership.
“…This is the pledge of our Mahagathbandhan to bring happiness on the faces of the people of Bihar. We are fighting to save Bihar…The people of Bihar see Tejashwi Yadav as the future of Bihar. He has won the trust of the people of Bihar,” Tiwari said
The Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, released its manifesto promising to pass a law within 20 days of forming government, to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state.
According to the manifesto, under the ‘Mai-Behin Maan Yojana’, women will receive financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month from December 1 for the next five years.
The Opposition’s alliance promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). OPS has been on the Congress agenda as the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh restored the OPS soon after assuming office. Congress had also included it in its manifesto for the Haryana Assembly polls.
Mahagathbandhan has promised to put the Waqf (Amendment) Act on hold, and to make the management of Waqf properties “welfare-oriented and transparent”.
Adding to the promises for the religious minorities, the management of Buddhist temples located in Bodh Gaya will be handed over to the people of the Buddhist community.
The poll promises also include an increase in the current 20 per cent reservation for the Most Backward Classes in Panchayat and Municipal bodies to 30 per cent. For Scheduled Castes (SCs), this limit will be raised from 16 per cent to 20 per cent, and a proportionate increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) will also be ensured, the manifesto said.
As per the manifesto, every family will receive 200 units of free electricity.
Farmers will be guaranteed the purchase of all crops at the minimum support price, and the Mandi and Market Committee will be revived. Mandis will be opened at the divisional, subdivision, and block levels. The APMC Act will be reinstated.
The alliance promised that every individual would be provided free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh under the Jan Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The voting for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, whereas bye-elections for eight seats across seven states and Union Territories will be held on November 11. The results for both will be declared on November 14. (ANI)
