Battle of BIHAR
Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: WITH the announcement of the two-phase polls in the Hindi heartland state of Bihar, the BJP-led NDA is set to maintain its post-2024 Lok Sabha victory spree in the state Assembly elections.
Bihar will vote for its 243-member Assembly on November 6 and 11 and the counting of votes will be held on November 14, according to the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission on October 6.
Projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the faces of the NDA in the state, the NDA has launched a multipronged strategy centred on the acceptability of its double-engine governance record centred on inclusive development.
Strong popularity
Except for 2015, the BJP has benefited in every election under PM Modi’s leadership. This confidence is the foundation of the party’s strategy this time too. Besides, BJP leaders also believe that Nitish Kumar’s popularity remains strong.
The BJP has entrusted the Bihar election campaign to its three prominent leaders. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been given the charge of 87 Assembly seats, while CR Patil and Keshav Prasad Maurya will shoulder the responsibility of 78 seats each. In addition, ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior leaders from other states are also being sent to each Assembly constituency. Their task is to gather feedback on local issues, address worker resentment, and disseminate information about Central and state Government schemes to beneficiaries.
Under the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme in the state, Rs 10,000 each has been deposited in the bank accounts of 1.25 crore women. Also, every household is receiving 125 units of free electricity, and social security pensions have been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, benefiting 11.2 million families.
Women focus
A 35 per cent reservation for women in police recruitment and 50 per cent reservation in panchayats and local bodies have brought women to the fore in the state poll battle. Loans at low interest rates for Jeevika Didis, increased allowances for ASHA and Mamata workers, and priority in employment schemes have all strengthened the NDA’s hold among women voters.
A scheme to provide Rs 1,000 per month to unemployed youth for two years has been implemented. Additionally, a promise has been made to create 10 million jobs and establish 6,000 internships over the next five years.
Most of the 1.4 million new voters in Bihar are 18- 19 years old, and an average of 5,700 new voters have been added in almost every constituency. This could determine the difference between victory and defeat on many seats. The BJP’s entire strategy in Bihar rests on the four pillars of ‘PM Modi’s trust, Nitish’s appeal, women’s support, and youth’s hope”.
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