NDA promises a crore jobs 

A week before the first phase of elections in Bihar, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) promised at least one crore government jobs to the youth. 

Released in Patna jointly by NDA leaders— Nitish Kumar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda, Union minister and LJP (RV) leader Chirag Paswan, union minister and HAM (S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi and RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha— that manifesto assured giving a push to industrialisation, in a state which has witnessed large scale migration due to unemployment. As part of its plans to enhance industrialization, the NDA is assuring construction of factories and 10 new industrial parks in every district, if it comes to power, The promises include at least 100 MSME parks and more than 50,000 cottage enterprises to be built,

Addressing the media, Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary said that the NDA will conduct a skills census, create skill-based employment, and establish Bihar as a global learning centre with mega learning centres in every district. 

The 69-page NDA manifesto, highlighting 25 issues, also focused on women and Extremely Backward Class (EBC), both sections which have been the backbone of chief minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar’s support base. Choudhury said the NDA will establish a chief minister’s women’s employment scheme providing women with an assistance of up to ₹2 lakh to empower them to be self-reliant. The NDA has pledged to make women entrepreneurs crorepatis through “Mission crorepati”. 

If the NDA returns to power, it will constitute a high-level committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to assess the social and economic status of various castes of the Extremely Backward Classes and make recommendations to the government to take appropriate steps for their empowerment, Choudhary said. Besides, various groups of Extremely Backward Classes, identified on basis of their occupation, will receive an assistance of ₹10 lakh.

Chaudhury said a NDA government will build seven expressways and modernise 3,600 km of rail tracks, besides establishing international airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnia, and Bhagalpur and metro networks in four cities. It also plans to expand air connectivity to 10 more cities of the state. 

The manifesto also promises a flood free Bihar in five years, making the state a textile hub and a world class educational centre. 

For farmers, it guarantees fMSP (minimum support price) for all crops, Kisan Samman Nidhi will be hiked from Rs 6,000 to Rs 1,000, besides a Rs one lakh crore investment in the state's agri-infrastructure.