BJP promises 19 lakh jobs, free COVID shots in Bihar poll manifesto

The BJP on Thursday (October 22) sought to take the wind out of RJD’s sails by promising 19 lakh jobs in Bihar in its manifesto released by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The RJD’s promise to create 10 lakh jobs has created a stir in the state where unemployment and migration of workers amid COVID-19 pandemic have become major issues.

The BJP has also promised free coronovirus vaccine. “As soon as the vaccine is available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto,” said Sitharaman. “Bihar’s growth will be an integral part of India’s growth,” she said, requesting voters to extend support to the NDA chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar of the JD(U).

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The manifesto, titled ‘Paanch Sutra, Ek lakshya, 11 Sankalp (Five-point agenda, one objective and 11 resolves)’ lays down a roadmap for 2020-25 for development of villages, cities, industries, education and agriculture.

In its ‘Sankalp Patra’, the BJP has promised jobs for the youth of the state and also expressed its commitment to turn Bihar into an information technology hub.

Key highlights of the BJP manifesto are: free COVID-19 vaccine, 5 lakh jobs in the next five years, 3 lakh teaching jobs, 1 lakh jobs in the health sector, free tabs for meritorious students in classes 9 and above, a sports university, digital counselling centres, Darbhanga AIIMS by 2024, houses for 30 lakh people in urban and rural areas, ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for the family of a migrant labourer dying suddenly in another state, job and ₹25 lakh for the family of a soldier who lays down life for the nation, MSP (minimum support price) for pulses grown in the state and 4G and broadband service in all towns and villages.

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The Congress and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) released their respective manifestos for the Bihar Assembly elections on Wednesday. While the Congress manifesto focused on loan waivers for farmers and passing legislations to reject the farm laws passed by the Parliament, the LJP played its ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ card by promising jobs to youth and increasing enterprises in the state.

Voting for the 243 Assembly seats in the state will be held on October 28, November 3 and November 7 and the results will be announced on November 10.