Bihar is heading for a fierce assembly election in October-November this year with the fate and future of many leaders at stake. A crucial Hindi-heartland state, Bihar has always been a region setting political agenda for parties and leaders. The state can break and make the career of many. As time nears for the election, the focus is back on what the state and people of Bihar really want.
A vicious circle of needs and wants will get a reality check this time when the voters exercise their franchise to elect a government in Bihar. But, what does Bihar really want from its government?
Key issues driving Bihar mandate
Special intensive revision- the Bihar voter roll row
While many ground level issues are key to winning the elections, the year 2025 would be remembered for a controversy on the voter roll itself. Announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in June this year, the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise turned out to be a battle of proofs between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition’s INDIA bloc.
The ECI took on a mammoth exercise of revising the entire voter roll in Bihar to accommodate the correction after adjusting the names of people who have died or migrated to another place. The opposition said it was an exercise to just remove voters to help the BJP-led NDA bloc. The SIR was challenged in the Supreme Court and all this while, the opposition took out a ‘voter adhikar’ march alleging ‘vote theft’ by the ECI.
The Supreme Court refused to pause the SIR, but did question the timing, and rejected the ECI’s idea of not accepting Aadhaar card as the proof of ID. The ECI has set the deadline to publish new draft rolls by the end of this month, ahead of announcing the election dates.
Employment and Exams
Another key issue at the centre would be the employment generation for the youth. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, in his 12 big questions to the Nitish Kumar government, mentioned unemployment and lack of transparency as among major concerns for the people of Bihar.
“Why are recruitment exams irregular, delayed, and lacking transparency?” Yadav said directing multiple questions at Nitish’s 20 years of government.
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data available on the official website of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the unemployment rate (15 years and above age group) in 2017-18 in Bihar was 7 percent.
This rate increased to 9.8 percent in 2018-19. As per the report, the unemployment rate has since been declining (except 2021-22) in the subsequent years.
The protest against railways exams, the BPSC exams, among others had already been a trouble for the Nitish government with leaders like Prashant Kishor participating in the movement.
Migration and treatment of Biharis in other states
People migrating from Bihar to other states have been a point of contention between the leaders of political parties of north and south. Several instances of crimes that occurred in Telangana and Tamil Nadu have created political chaos with leaders of these states blaming Biharis for the violent incidents.
When Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin joined the opposition’s rally in Bihar, the ruling NDA attacked saying Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav are with those who insult Bihar and its people.
Bihar’s development – A forever debate
The infrastructure, economic and industrial developments are something that Bihar has struggled with for decades. PM Narendra Modi, on multiple occasions, has compared Nitish Kumar’s ‘sushaan’ with Lalu Yadav ‘jungle’ raj’, saying that the NDA-led bloc has rapidly increased the speed of development in the state.
Bihar CM recently inaugurated the state’s first double decker flyover, and PM Modi too had last month opened a key highway in the state.
Agriculture and Rural issues
The state of Bihar continues to be dominated by the agriculture sector that employs nearly 70% of the state’s population. Issues like irrigation, fair crop prices, crop insurance, and access to markets dominate rural conversations. The frequent flooding in North Bihar and drought in South Bihar also create a cycle of uncertainty for farmers.
Excessive rain, flooding and loss of crops every year will be a factor that both ruling and opposition alliance has to address.
The opposition has also said the state has not been able to fully utilise its capability of the dairy sector. “Why can’t Bihar export ghee, butter, cheese, khoya, and paneer across India and abroad?” Tejashwi Yadav had asked.
Bihar’s women
Women are a section that has long backed Nitish Kumar and is believed to be a heavy supporter. The Chief Minister’s policies of free bicycles for girls and reservations in panchayats may again strengthen his support among women. He had also launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojna to support women and their businesses.