Ashok Gehlot Hails Mahagathbandhan’s ‘Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran’ Manifesto; BJP Dubs It “A Bunch of Lies”

Patna: Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday praised the Mahagathbandhan’s election manifesto titled ‘Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran’, describing it as a people-centric document that reflects the Opposition alliance’s commitment to the welfare of Bihar’s citizens.

“When Tejashwi’s name appears in the manifesto itself, it means the Chief Minister’s face of the Mahagathbandhan is showing commitment to the people. The manifesto released is very good… It takes into consideration the concerns of the people of Bihar,”
said Gehlot, lauding the inclusion of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s image on the manifesto’s cover as a sign of unity and leadership within the alliance.

With less than ten days left for the Bihar Assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, released its comprehensive manifesto on Tuesday. The document outlines several welfare schemes, including financial aid for women, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and reforms in Waqf property management.

Key Promises in ‘Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran’

Under the ‘Mai-Behin Maan Yojana’, women will receive ₹2,500 per month starting December 1, for the next five years.

The alliance pledged to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a policy Congress has already implemented in Himachal Pradesh and promised in Haryana.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act will be put on hold, and management of Waqf properties will be made “welfare-oriented and transparent.”

However, the manifesto release drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a press conference in Patna, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissed the Opposition’s promises, calling the document “a bunch of lies.”

“Those who are claiming to give a new vision to Bihar are accused of 420. We did not say this—15 days ago, the Delhi court framed charges. The trial is about to take place. They are also accused of a land-for-jobs scam. RJD is a school of corruption. This is their past, this is their present, and this will also be their future,”
Prasad said, attacking the RJD’s credibility.

The Political Line-Up

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, will primarily see a contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan. Results will be declared on November 14.

The NDA includes:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Janata Dal (United)

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)

Rashtriya Lok Morcha

The Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD, comprises:

Congress Party

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) led by Dipankar Bhattacharya

Communist Party of India (CPI)

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement has announced its intention to contest all 243 seats, potentially reshaping the electoral landscape.