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Bihar Elections 2025 Live: 'Old wine in new bottle', says RJD's Rohini Acharya on NDA manifesto

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, October 31st 2025 at 23:04 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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Bihar 2025 Election Campaign Kicks Off with High‑Profile Rally in Patna

The 2025 Bihar assembly elections have entered the most visible phase of campaigning as the state’s political leaders launch a vigorous push to win the 243 seats in the Vidhan Sabha. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), began the campaign on November 1, 2025, with a massive rally in Patna where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a crowd of tens of thousands. The rally set the tone for a week of rallies, road shows, and public meetings that will culminate in the voting phase scheduled for mid‑November.

Prime Minister Modi’s Rally and Promises

Prime Minister Modi’s Patna address highlighted the central government’s key initiatives that have been rolled out across Bihar in the last four years. He praised the "Bihar Special Plan," a programme that aimed to improve infrastructure, provide subsidies for solar energy, and streamline land reforms. Modi pledged a continued commitment to "Digital Bihar"—a flagship project that aims to bring high‑speed internet to every block and make e‑government services universally accessible.

Modi also emphasized the "Bihar Infrastructure Fund," a ₹30,000 crore investment in roads, rail, and irrigation that the Modi government is said to have accelerated during the last tenure. He promised a further boost to this fund, citing the need to create jobs for the state’s growing youth population. The PM underlined the importance of "Agricultural Reforms" and announced an upcoming "Farmers’ Credit Guarantee Scheme" that would extend a 75 % guarantee on loan repayment to support crop diversification.

Nitish Kumar: Strengthening the BJP‑JD(U) Alliance

In tandem with Modi, Nitish Kumar, the incumbent Chief Minister and leader of the Janata Dal (United), reinforced the BJP‑JD(U) partnership. Speaking in a joint press conference, Kumar highlighted the "continuity of development" that has emerged from their alliance. He underscored the “Road to 5 G” connectivity plan that will bring the next‑generation network to all rural districts, citing a projected increase in digital literacy by 20 % over the next five years.

Kumar also laid out a new “Social Welfare Scheme” targeting the state’s marginalized communities. He announced a ₹500‑crore fund dedicated to subsidizing the purchase of tractors and other farm equipment for smallholder farmers, a move that could tilt support toward the rural electorate. Additionally, he pledged to launch a statewide “Skill Development Programme” targeting 200,000 unemployed youth, offering courses in information technology, hospitality, and renewable energy technologies.

Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD Campaign: Focus on Justice and Employment

Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), launched his own campaign in Patna on November 1. Yadav’s speeches were characterized by a call for “social justice” and a promise to restore the welfare state model that the state’s previous RJD governments had championed. He highlighted the “Bihar Welfare Fund” which has been credited with providing free education to millions of children and subsidizing health care for low‑income families.

Yadav also announced the “Bihar Employment Guarantee Scheme” that would guarantee 15 % of the workforce a minimum wage job through public works. He vowed to set up 50,000 new work points across the state, with a particular focus on rural regions. In a series of televised debates, Yadav critiqued the NDA’s handling of water distribution in the Ganges basin, calling for more stringent environmental safeguards.

RJD Manifesto Highlights

The RJD manifesto, released during the launch event, is built around five core pillars:

1. Education for All: The party promises free tuition for primary and secondary schools and an expansion of the existing scholarship scheme for students from economically backward families. It also pledges to establish 20 new higher‑education institutes in rural districts.

2. Healthcare Expansion: The manifesto proposes a new network of primary health centers, each equipped with modern diagnostic tools and a 24‑hour emergency response unit. RJD also plans to bring the “Bihar Tele‑Health Service” to every block.

3. Agricultural Support: The RJD will introduce a “Zero‑Interest Micro‑Credit Scheme” for farmers, along with subsidies for organic fertilizers and training in climate‑resilient farming techniques.

4. Job Creation: Through the “Bihar Manufacturing Corridor” initiative, the party intends to attract private investment in the state’s industrial parks. The scheme will focus on textile, food processing, and renewable energy manufacturing.

5. Social Equity: The manifesto includes a “Housing for All” programme that aims to provide subsidized housing to 200,000 families by 2030, particularly in urban slums and rural hamlets.

Political Landscape and Alliances

The NDA’s coalition in Bihar consists of the BJP, Janata Dal (United), and the Samajwadi Party (SP). This alliance has been credited with bringing stability to the state for the last four years, though critics argue that the alliance has also stifled opposition voices. The RJD, along with the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS), form the opposition coalition. This opposition bloc is seen as a potential counterweight to the NDA, especially with the RJD’s focus on rural development and welfare schemes.

Voting Timeline and Expected Turnout

Bihar’s elections are scheduled to be conducted over a three‑day window from November 14 to November 16, 2025, with the counting set for November 21. Early estimates predict a voter turnout of approximately 78 %, driven by increased mobilization efforts by both alliances and the high stakes associated with Bihar’s political future. The state’s electorate is split almost evenly between urban and rural voters, with the rural majority looking closely at job creation and infrastructure promises.

Media and Public Sentiment

Live blogs and social media have captured an upsurge in public interest. The campaign’s high‑profile rallies, combined with strategic use of digital platforms, have allowed parties to engage with younger voters. Analysts suggest that issues such as job creation, healthcare, and education will dominate voter concerns, and that the performance of the incumbent alliance in implementing welfare schemes will be a decisive factor.

In the weeks to come, both the NDA and the RJD‑led opposition will intensify their outreach, focusing on key districts like Patna, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur. As the state moves toward the election day, the political narrative will likely sharpen around promises of development, social equity, and economic opportunity—all while each side underscores its track record and future vision for Bihar.