East Champaran (Bihar), July 18: In a major pre-poll announcement, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday declared that electricity would be provided free of cost to all residents of the state. Speaking at a public gathering in Motihari in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar also unveiled a series of ambitious welfare initiatives, including new employment targets, increased pension benefits, and infrastructure investments worth ₹50,000 crore.
Kumar said the decision to offer free electricity would be finalized in a cabinet meeting scheduled for later in the day. “During the previous government’s tenure, there was barely eight hours of electricity—even in Patna. Today, we’ve changed all of that. Consumers won’t have to pay for power anymore,” he said.
Jobs and Social Welfare Commitments
The Chief Minister pledged to create one crore new jobs in the next five years, adding that the state had already provided 10 lakh government jobs to youth. “We are committed to employment for our young people and have a roadmap in place,” he said.
In a significant boost to welfare programs, Kumar announced the increase of pension payouts for differently abled persons, senior citizens, and widows from ₹400 to ₹1,100. The move will benefit over 1.11 crore people across Bihar.
Major Infrastructure and Budget Announcements
The Bihar CM revealed that ₹50,000 crore had been sanctioned for 430 new development schemes covering various sectors. He also spoke about key inclusions for Bihar in the upcoming 2025 Union Budget, including:
- Establishment of a Makhana Board to enhance the crop’s marketing, production, and processing.
- Inauguration of a new airport in the state.
- Financial support for flood prevention measures on the Western Kosi River.
Criticism of Previous Governments
Nitish Kumar sharply criticized earlier state administrations, accusing them of ignoring development. “Before the BJP-JD(U) formed the government in 2005, the state was in shambles. We’ve since developed education, health, and road infrastructure at a rapid pace,” he stated.
Support from Deputy CM and PM Modi
Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary highlighted central government contributions, saying, “More than 60 lakh homes were built in Bihar under PM Awas Yojana over the last 11 years under PM Modi’s leadership.”
Earlier in the day, PM Narendra Modi flagged off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains from various parts of Bihar, including:
- Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) to New Delhi
- Bapudham Motihari to Anand Vihar (Delhi)
- Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar)
- Malda Town to Lucknow (via Bhagalpur)
The event also included a roadshow with PM Modi, CM Nitish Kumar, and Deputy CMs Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Chaudhary.
Political Context Ahead of Assembly Polls
The announcements come ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections, expected in October or November 2025. The ruling NDA (BJP, JD(U), LJP) is gearing up to retain power, while the INDIA bloc (RJD, Congress, Left) will attempt to oust Nitish Kumar.
Currently, the 243-member Bihar Assembly comprises:
- NDA: 131 MLAs (BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, Independents 2)
- INDIA Bloc: 111 MLAs (RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, CPI 2)