Mahagathbandhan's Bihar Election Manifesto: Government Jobs Promise and Waqf Law Opposition

With Bihar elections approaching in just 10 days, the Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance has taken the lead by unveiling their manifesto on Tuesday, ahead of the polls scheduled for November 6 and 11. The vote counting will take place on November 14.

The ruling coalition of BJP and Nitish Kumar's JDU has yet to release their electoral promises.

Tejashwi Yadav, positioned as the opposition's chief ministerial candidate, has made bold pledges focusing on employment, promising skill-based jobs and government positions for one member of every family across the state.

Key highlights from the Mahagathbandhan manifesto include:

The manifesto states that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament in April, will not be implemented in Bihar. Tejashwi previously declared it would be "thrown into the dustbin" should his party gain power.

Within the first 20 days of forming government, they pledge to enact legislation guaranteeing government employment to one member from each family in Bihar.

All Jeevika Community Mobiliser workers will receive permanent status as government employees with a fixed monthly salary of Rs 30,000.

The alliance promises to make all contract and outsourced workers permanent employees.

Skill-based employment opportunities will be developed across multiple sectors including IT parks, Special Economic Zones, duty-based industries, agro-based industries, healthcare, agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism.

A comprehensive policy will be implemented for financial support and skills development of small and medium enterprises. Plans include constructing an educational city, industry clusters, and five new expressways across 2,000 acres of land in the state.

The Old Pension Scheme will be reintroduced.

Under the Mai-Behin Maan Yojana, women will receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 starting December.

Social Security Pension reforms will provide widows and elderly citizens with Rs 15,002 monthly, increasing by Rs 2,200 annually. Persons with disabilities will receive Rs 3,000 monthly. Additionally, every family will be entitled to 200 units of free electricity.

The alliance plans to enact regulatory legislation to protect women from harassment during loan collection by microfinance companies and to control arbitrary interest rates.