Bihar Opposition Unveils Manifesto Promising Jobs and Welfare

The Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance on Tuesday released its election manifesto, Tejashwi Pran Patra, in Patna, laying out pledges on jobs, welfare and governance ahead of the Bihar assembly polls on November 6 and 11. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, the alliance's declared chief ministerial candidate, unveiled the document and named Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party as the alliance's deputy chief minister nominee.

The manifesto promises a range of measures, including a law within 20 days of taking office to guarantee one government job per family and a commitment to begin job distribution within 20 months. It pledges Rs 2,500 monthly to women, 200 units of free electricity per household, subsidised gas cylinders at Rs 500 for poor families, and restoration of the old pension scheme for state government employees. The alliance also pledged to regularise contractual and outsourced workers and make Jeevika self-help group women permanent government employees, alongside plans for IT parks, special economic zones, dairy and agro-based industries, five new expressways and expanded higher education access.

The manifesto includes health and social welfare...