Bihar elections: Key takeaways from Mahagathbandhan manifesto

Ahead of Bihar assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan in its manifesto has promised ten lakh jobs, scraping of controversial farm laws, waive off exam fees and ramp up electricity production.

Patna:The Mahagathbandhan alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming assembly election in Bihar. From 10 lakh jobs to farm loan waivers, the manifesto has plenty of promises. The manifesto was released by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav while Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shaktisinh Gohil were also present at the press meet among other leaders.

Addressing the media, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is the alliance’s pick for the chief minister’s post, said the main agenda of the Mahagathbandhan government will be to provide employment and stop the migration of people due to the unavailability of jobs. The manifesto also focused on spacial category status for the State. Yadav accused the Nitish Kumar government did not do anything to realise the demand for special status.

Key Points: Mahagathbandhan Manifesto

'Provide 10 lakh jobs'

• One of the major points in the common minimum programme document is the promise of providing jobs to about 10 lakh youth in Bihar.

'Scrap anti-farm laws'

• The alliance has promised scrapping of the three "anti-farm" laws in the very first Vidhan Sabha session if it comes to power.

'Waive off exam fee'

• If voted to power, the alliance promises to waive off exam fees. Conveyance charges to reach the exam centre will also be borne by them.

'Ramp up electricity production'

• Citing that the State doesn't have enough electricity production, the manifesto promised to ramp up electricity generation.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the Mahagathbandhan, or grand alliance, will pass a bill in the very first state Assembly session to do away with the farm laws. "Can PM Modi and Nitish Kumar tell us that if all mandis are destroyed, then how will the farmers fetch MSP (minimum support price)?" he asked while launching the manifesto.

Surjewala added, "This election is the election of the new path and the new sky versus the Hindu-Muslim, this election is the election of new-age versus the experience of failure, this election is the election of self-reliance and progress versus division and hate. This election is the election of a new direction versus destruction."

He also spoke on the controversy surrounding Congress candidate and ex-AMU student union president Maskoor Usmani.

READ:Nitish to be next CM of Bihar: Amit Shah