Election activities have intensified in Bihar, with various issues taking center stage in the campaign. Among the most pressing concerns are migration and employment. Around five million people from Bihar migrate to other states, working as laborers or rickshaw pullers to support their families back home. Most of these migrants are employed in the unorganized and private sectors. It remains uncertain how many of them will stay in Bihar after the Chhath festival to cast their votes or return to their workplaces. Meanwhile, political parties are making ambitious promises of job creation during the election campaign. RJD leader and Grand Alliance Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, while releasing his election manifesto Tejaswi Pran, unveiled a series of pledges aimed at youth, women, and workers. He also projected a vision of Bihar’s transformation under the slogan “Change Maker.”
These promises not only appear attractive but also directly address Bihar’s problems of unemployment (approximately 15%) and migration. Nevertheless, their practicality, financial burden, and opposition attacks have made them risky. Through his travels and press conferences, Tejashwi Yadav has made a series of promises, primarily focused on employment, women’s empowerment, and social justice. The most prominent of these promises is a government job for every family in the state. Tejashwi claimed that within 20 months of the formation of the Grand Alliance government, every family in Bihar (totaling 2.97 crore) will be provided with at least one government job. The promise of permanent jobs and a salary of 30,000 rupees for Jeevika Didis (women’s self-help groups) is also significant. According to this promise, approximately 200,000 Jeevika Didis (members of women’s self-help groups) in Bihar are to be given government employee status. Fulfilling this promise of permanent jobs for all contract employees in the state, numbering in the millions, is no easy task.
On the other hand, Janata Dal (United) President and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with the full support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced a major employment project. He promises that if his government is formed, he will provide 10 million jobs over the next five years. Furthermore, the Chief Minister has left no department, including Anganwadi workers, community workers, and Jeevika Didis, without increasing their financial resources. Even before the elections were announced, Nitish Kumar announced a deposit of ₹10,000 into each Jeevika Didi’s account. There is a subtle difference between election gimmicks and social welfare schemes. During election season, it becomes difficult to define whether these are considered gimmicks or social welfare schemes. Whenever elections approach, leaders of every party make a barrage of promises, but after the elections, these promises become ineffective. The issue of one government job per household, which Tejashwi Yadav has presented to the public, has generated considerable discussion. Providing government jobs to one member of every 27.6 million households in Bihar requires approximately ₹9 lakh crore annually. Bihar’s budget alone is ₹3.17 lakh crore and it has a debt of over ₹4 lakh crore. Prashant Kishore of Jan Suraj is also promising to stop migration and provide jobs.
The BJP-led NDA is raising the question of where this funding will come from. While there are constant debates on TV channels, Tejashwi Yadav says he has thoroughly studied the subject and will soon unveil his roadmap. Furthermore, Tejashwi Yadav has played a masterstroke by proposing to expand the scope of reservation. While in power, Tejashwi implemented the decision to increase reservations after the completion of the caste-based census in Bihar. The matter later reached the court. Now, Tejashwi is talking about making the expanded reservations permanent by including them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Tejashwi is also targeting the three-tier Panchayat representatives, and this section is included in his election promises. The BJP-JD(U) alliance is attempting to portray Tejashwi as an irresponsible dream-monger. Clearly, unless promises are translated into concrete policy, they will remain mere rhetoric. The Grand Alliance should frame its manifesto with economic viability rather than emotional appeals. This strategy will instill public confidence and weaken the opposition’s attacks. Tejashwi Yadav’s charisma, communication style, and connection with the youth make him a prominent figure in Bihar politics, but his entire election strategy revolves around grand promises. In politics, any promise becomes powerful only when it has credibility, authenticity, and the possibility of implementation.
Tejashwi Yadav is embroiled in the plot-for-job scam. While the corruption charges against him have not yet been proven in court, NDA leaders are reminding people of the “jungle raj” of his father Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rule. On the other hand, there is a segment of the public that believes that when the Grand Alliance comes to power, it will arrange for the funds. The public is not concerned with analyzing the promises. Tejashwi Yadav has taken a huge risk by releasing the manifesto. Now it remains to be seen to what extent the people of Bihar will accept Tejashwi’s pledge. If the public accepts Tejashwi’s pledge, he may win the election. If the public rejects it, it will be a major political blow for him.
