‘PRAANA’ VS ‘SANKALP’ IN BIHAR ELECTION

‘PRAANA’ VS ‘SANKALP’ IN BIHAR ELECTION

1-NOV-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------With the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections off to a rocking start, two major political parties have released their respective manifestos, attempting to woo voters. On one hand, there's the 'Tejaswi Prana Patra' by Tejashwi Yadav, the face of the opposition Grand Alliance, which promises direct economic benefits to youth and women, and on the other, there's the 'Sankalp Patra' by the ruling NDA, which dreams of large-scale employment and development. But are these promises merely election drama or a true direction for the 130 million people of Bihar? Let's examine them in depth.

As the Bihar election dates draw near, political activity has intensified. The Grand Alliance made its first move on October 27, when Tejashwi Yadav released the 'Tejaswi Prana Patra' in Patna. This document focuses on socio-economic justice for Bihar, attempting to strengthen Tejashwi's image during his 17-month tenure as Deputy Chief Minister. Key promises include a government job for every family, ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women, 200 units of free electricity, a gas cylinder for ₹500, free treatment up to ₹2.5 million, and the restoration of the old pension scheme. Tejashwi described it as a "pledge to the people," saying it was a promise to change Bihar's image of "jungle raj," focusing on employment and education.

The NDA immediately dismissed this "pledge" of the Grand Alliance as an "impossible dream," but the ruling coalition itself presented its "Sankalp Patra" on October 31 in Patna under the leadership of BJP President JP Nadda. The manifesto is based on a vision of a "developed Bihar," which includes 10 million government jobs, 10 million "Lakhpati Didis" (assistance of ₹2 lakh to women), MSP guarantee for every crop, 125 units of free electricity, and major infrastructure projects such as expressways and metro expansion. Showing solidarity among allies like Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan, the NDA described it as a "resolve for good governance" that will build on the development of the last 20 years.

Both documents emphasize women and youth, but the differences in depth are clear. While the "Tejaswi Prana" focuses on direct cash transfers and social welfare—such as a monthly salary of ₹30,000 for Jeevika Didis and permanent jobs for contract workers—the "Sankalp Patra" emphasizes industry and agriculture, promoting entrepreneurship to create 10 million Lakhpati Didis. Regarding electricity, the Grand Alliance promises 200 units free, while the NDA settled for 125 units. There's also a stark difference in employment figures: the Grand Alliance aims for "one job per family" (for approximately 50 million families), while the NDA promises 10 million jobs.

Analytically, the "Pran Patra" targets Bihar's backward castes, Dalits, and Muslims (whom Tejashwi calls "mai-behen"), the Grand Alliance's vote bank. It appears to be an attempt to reverse the 2015 "Good Governance" model, which cemented Tejashwi's image as a "young leader." On the other hand, the NDA's "Sankalp" capitalizes on the Modi-Nitish national brand, highlighting the benefits of a "double-engine" government. However, critics say it's merely a repackaging of old promises, such as the 2010 manifesto's promise of an "employment revolution," which remained unfulfilled. #TejashwiPran is trending on social media, with users calling it "people-centric," while #NDASankalpPatra is being called "hypocritical."

Tejashwi termed the NDA's "Sankalp" a "sorry letter," saying, "Those who don't have time to read their own manifesto, how will they implement it?" The Congress party also called the press conference a "media evasion." Meanwhile, NDA leaders called the "Pran Patra" "impossible," claiming the Grand Alliance lacked funding. Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter, Rohini Acharya, tweeted, "The NDA's letter is old content in a new envelope." Experts believe this battle will impact caste equations—Yadav-Muslim votes will go to the Grand Alliance, while EBC and upper castes will go to the NDA.

The first phase of voting begins on November 9th, and these manifestos are the last chance to win voters' trust. Surveys show that unemployment (affecting 40% of youth) and inflation are the main issues. If "Pran" wins, a new era of "social justice" could begin in Bihar; if "Sankalp" wins, the pace of "development" accelerates. But history bears witness: 90% of election promises remain unfulfilled. Bihari voters will now vote on "performance," not just promises. Will the "battle" of Bihar fulfill Tejashwi's pledge or will the NDA's resolve be implemented? Time will tell.