Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to release its joint manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, October 31. Senior leaders from all alliance constituents are expected to be present at the launch event scheduled for 9:30 am in Patna. The NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Sources indicate that the manifesto will prioritize job creation, particularly within the IT and MSME sectors. This focus aims to provide a distinct alternative to the promises made by the opposition Mahagathbandhan. The NDA's manifesto is expected to highlight focus on education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, women empowerment and infrastructure, reinforcing its theme of "double-engine growth", symbolizing coordinated governance between the state and the Centre. According to party sources, the manifesto will serve as a detailed roadmap for Bihar's progress, with special emphasis on employment generation, rural connectivity, and welfare initiatives.
The emphasis on the IT sector aligns with India's broader aspirations to be a global software powerhouse. Creating jobs in this sector could involve promoting IT parks and special economic zones (SEZs). Also, rapid industrialization in a predominantly agrarian economy and building world class institutions in research and higher education whose graduates are at par with the world's best would help to achieve the goal.
The MSME sector is considered the backbone of India's manufacturing and industrial growth. The government recognizes the transformative role of MSMEs in the country's economic growth and is committed to nurturing and strengthening this sector. Focus on MSMEs includes expanding the definition of MSMEs to instill confidence in their continuous growth, which would create more employment opportunities for the youth. Promoting entrepreneurship and district-level manufacturing hubs, with specific focus on food-processing, textile and leather industries would help the sector. Also, enhancing credit access, supporting first-time entrepreneurs, and promoting labor-intensive industries are some measures to strengthen the MSME sector.
The NDA's manifesto launch comes after the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, released its own manifesto, titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran'. The Mahagathbandhan's manifesto focuses heavily on employment, social security, and pro-farmer policies. A key promise is to pass a law within 20 days of forming the government to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state. The INDIA bloc also promised to enact a law within its first 20 days in power to ensure that one member of every family in the State is given a government job and also vowed to give permanent government employee status to all contractual and outsourced employees, as well as to Jeevika community mobilisers. Other promises includes restoration of old pension scheme and 200 units of free power.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. The NDA will face a challenge from the I.N.D.I.A bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD, the Congress, and other parties. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has also fielded candidates on all 243 seats in the state.
