RJD-Led Mahagathbandhan to Unveil Bihar Poll Manifesto on October 28; Promises Job Guarantee, Benefits for Jeevika Didis

Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan will release its much-awaited manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on October 28, in the presence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and other senior leaders from the INDIA bloc. The event, set to be held in Patna, comes just a day after the Opposition alliance declared Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as the deputy CM face.

According to alliance insiders, the manifesto will heavily emphasize employment creation, women empowerment, and social welfare measures. Key promises are expected to include providing government jobs to every household, granting permanent status to contractual workers and Jeevika Didis, and introducing reservation in private educational institutions across the state.

Tejashwi Yadav, addressing the media earlier this week, reiterated the bloc’s commitment to making all Jeevika Didis permanent employees if the INDIA bloc forms the next government. “Our government will provide Rs 5 lakh health insurance cover to all Jeevika Didis and an additional monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 if they are engaged in government-related work,” Yadav said. He also announced that interest loans taken by these women self-help group members would be completely waived off.

Currently, Bihar has over 1.45 crore Jeevika Didis, who play a crucial role in rural economic activities through the state’s livelihood mission. The RJD leader emphasized that empowering them would remain a top priority of the coalition.

Yadav also reiterated his ambitious employment plan, promising one government job per household within 20 days of forming the government. “This is not jumlebaazi. We will pass a new law within 20 days and ensure that within 20 months, no house in Bihar remains without a government job,” he asserted.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other NDA constituents, however, dismissed Yadav’s announcement as unrealistic and populist. BJP leaders accused the Opposition of making “hollow promises” to mislead the electorate.