logo
What rivals ideate, Nitish inks: The script behind the Bihar election sop story

What rivals ideate, Nitish inks: The script behind the Bihar election sop story

India Today3 days ago
In Bihar's humid July heat, domestic consumers can now let their fans and fridges hum guilt-free. On July 17, chief minister Nitish Kumar announced a waiver of up to 125 electricity units each month for 18.7 million households—a timely gust of cool relief that the Janata Dal (United) hopes will translate into electoral capital this year.In fact, no welfare docket has been left untouched as Nitish is trying to position himself, once again, as the indispensable steward of Bihar's politics. Backed by a state subsidy of Rs 19,792 crore for the current financial year, the electricity waiver ensures zero billing on the first 125 units consumed—enough to power the basic needs of families.advertisementPrime challenger Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) may have pledged 200 units of free electricity should the Opposition mahagathbandhan come to power, but Nitish's offering is no longer speculative; it has cabinet approval and will reflect in the power bills for August. He has transformed a rival's populist script into state policy, handing voters immediate relief as against one promised.With assembly elections barely months away, Nitish has absorbed and actualised key welfare ideas mooted by the Opposition—higher pension, job quota for women, subsidised electricity—demonstrating that in Bihar, at least, it is the doer, not the dreamer, who may have the edge.
DOMICILE-ONLY WOMEN'S QUOTAIn a subtle but significant move on July 8, the Bihar cabinet amended its flagship government jobs scheme, tightening eligibility criteria so that the 35 per cent quota for women applies only to domiciled residents of the state.For the first time, the gates have been shut for 'bahari' aspirants. What may seem an administrative recalibration is, in essence, a finely tuned electoral calculation: only those who cast their lot in Bihar can now share its spoils. Politically, it underscores a reciprocal logic—if only Biharis can vote, only Biharis should benefit. The subtext is unmistakable: women voters, no longer passive participants, now take centre-stage.PUMPING UP PENSIONIn mid-June, the Nitish cabinet sanctioned a sweeping increase in social security pensions, raising monthly payments for widows, senior citizens and people with disabilities from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. The measure immediately benefitted 11 million people.On July 11, Nitish presided over a transfer ceremony where Rs 1,227.27 crore worth of pensions were electronically disbursed. It was a subtle but unmistakable stroke of oneupmanship: Tejashwi had promised similar hikes but Nitish had already enacted them.COPYCAT OR CAPABLE?Critics in the RJD have derided Nitish's latest moves as 'copycat politics'—a borrowing of Tejashwi's vision. Yet this critique underestimates the potency of execution. While Tejashwi's pledges remain parked in manifestos, Nitish has mobilised bureaucracies, secured budget lines and rolled out benefits.Where Nitish truly excels is in compressing the distance between announcement and implementation. Pension increases were credited within days. The 35 per cent women's quota change moved seamlessly from cabinet resolution to revised recruitment rules. The electricity subsidy arrived with operational clarity, including a plan to install rooftop solar systems, fully subsidised for BPL (below poverty line) families and partially supported for others. It's not merely optics. It's a bureaucratic ballet orchestrated to perfection, offering both relief and resonance.advertisementTHE ELECTORAL ARITHMETICIn Bihar, electoral success hinges increasingly on women voters, who now consistently outvote their male counterparts. From 1951 to 2005, male voter turnout exceeded female turnout in every assembly election.That changed in 2010, when 54.49 per cent of women voted as against 51.12 per cent of men. In 2015, women led again: 60.54 per cent to 53.30 per cent. The 2020 polls followed the same trend—59.68 per cent women's turnout against 54.45 per cent men. Even in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the divide endured: 59.45 per cent women, 53 per cent men.These numbers mark a profound shift. Bihar's women no longer arrive at the ballot box in their husbands' or fathers' shadow—they come early and vote independently. In a state traditionally defined by caste affiliations, gender has emerged as an autonomous axis of influence.advertisementPerhaps sensing the direction of the wind, the Opposition is scrambling to shore up its pitch. The Congress, taking a page out of Hemant Soren's Jharkhand playbook, has promised a Maa-Bahan Maan Yojana, a monthly entitlement of Rs 2,500 to vulnerable women. The RJD has backed the promise.Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, on its part, has committed to fielding at least 40 women candidates—a recognition, perhaps, of a changing electorate that cares more about representation than rhetoric.THE STRATEGIST'S EDGEIn reserving the job quota for domiciled women and delivering on pensions and free power, Nitish isn't simply doling out benefits—he's redrawing Bihar's political map. By targeting welfare towards women, he is both rewarding loyalty and cementing future support.And even if some of the ideas weren't originally his, so be it. As with his rooftop solar plan, Nitish is proving that borrowed light can still power a home, especially if you switch it on before anyone else does. In the upcoming high-stakes election, it is not the originality of an idea but the speed and success of its execution that may decide the direction of the mandate.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rs 5,000 to register mutually divided ancestral property
Rs 5,000 to register mutually divided ancestral property

Time of India

time37 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Rs 5,000 to register mutually divided ancestral property

1 2 Lucknow: The department of stamp and registration is working on a proposal to cut down stamp duty for partition of properties from 7% of the value of a property to a flat Rs 5,000. Partition of property refers to division of ancestral property among various claimants. Due to the high cost of registration of 'aapsi sehmati' or mutual consent settlements, families end up going to revenue or civil courts which means that matters can get dragged on for months, if not years. By easing registration charges, the government hopes to reduce pendency in civil and revenue courts. An official confirmed that the proposal will be taken to Cabinet for clearance in about a month. Partition of property is when the co-owners of a property mutually agree to divide the property among themselves and accordingly get it registered under Article 45 of the Registration Act, 1908. For instance, if an ancestral house is owned by two siblings, and two generations down they have 16 descendants, then the property needs to be divided into 16 parts, which includes the decision on which part of the property goes to whom. "Registration of stamp duty is 5% of the property price in Noida and 7% in the rest of the state. To avoid this cost, families end up going to the revenue department or to civil courts which could take months to dispose of each matter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo This process can be completed in just five minutes through mutual agreement now. To reduce this burden, a flat rate of Rs 5,000 per registration has been proposed," said minister Ravindra Jaiswal. In fact, the idea to reduce registration to a flat rate was mooted by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in 2024 not just to reduce pendency in courts but since in the case of partition there is no sale or purchase of property but just division, it was felt that high registration rates were unfair on citizens. Meanwhile, other aspects of property settlement within families where a similar reduction in stamp registration can be expected within the next few months include settlement under Article 58 of the Registration Act, 1908, where a person distributes property among heirs while still alive, release, and exchange of ancestral properties.

Naharkatia gets Rs 130-crore fund for 5 projects
Naharkatia gets Rs 130-crore fund for 5 projects

Time of India

time37 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Naharkatia gets Rs 130-crore fund for 5 projects

1 2 3 4 Dibrugarh: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday unveiled an ambitious development package worth Rs 130 crore for Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district, laying foundation stones for multiple infrastructure projects at the Naharkatia Higher Secondary School Playground. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the region's development trajectory, with the CM laying the foundation stones of five major projects designed to boost educational infrastructure, transportation connectivity, and sports facilities. The centerpiece of the development package is the Namrup-Naharkatia road overbridge, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 69 crore. The critical infrastructure project is expected to significantly improve transportation links and facilite smoother movement of goods and people between the two important towns. The second-largest project in the package is the co-district commissioner's Office, allocated Rs 20 crore. This administrative facility will bring govt services closer to the people, reducing their need to travel to district headquarters for various official procedures and documentation. Sports infrastructure received a significant boost with the announcement of a hockey stadium project worth Rs 15 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo The facility is expected to nurture local sporting talent and provide a platform for athletes from the region to showcase their skills at various levels of competition. The education sector development featured prominently in the package, with the CM laying foundation stones for two school — the Naharkatia Higher Secondary School Building, with an allocation of Rs 7 crore and the Konwariajan High School Building, budgeted at Rs 8 crore. He also handed over the newly constructed ITI Naharkatia to the skill, employment and entrepreneurship department. The technical institute, built at a cost of Rs 11 crore in collaboration with Tata Technologies, represents a significant investment in skill development infrastructure. The ITI facility is expected to provide technical education and vocational training to hundreds of students annually, equipping them with industry-relevant skills and improving their employment prospects in various sectors. "Today's foundation laying ceremony represents our govt's unwavering commitment to balanced regional development across Assam. These projects will not only enhance infrastructure but also create employment opportunities and improve the quality of life for our people in Naharkatia and surrounding areas," Sarma said during the event.

Proceeds of crime in Vadra land deal used to acquire property, ED tells court
Proceeds of crime in Vadra land deal used to acquire property, ED tells court

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Proceeds of crime in Vadra land deal used to acquire property, ED tells court

NEW DELHI: It's a 'clear and classic case of money laundering' as proceeds of crime were used to acquire immovable properties, ED on Thursday told a Delhi court while making preliminary submissions on its chargesheet in the case linked to a land deal in Shikohpur village in Gurgaon involving Robert Vadra , husband of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The agency was arguing before special judge Sushant Chagotra of Rouse Avenue courts on the point of issuance of notice to Vadra and other accused in the case. The court reserved its order on notice for July 31. ED, which recently filed a chargesheet against Vadra and others in the case, submitted that the evidence conclusively established that the offence is of money laundering, where proceeds of crime are generated, layered and enjoyed. The agency said they had shown funds flow, property and statements of witnesses. The land deal in question was executed in Feb 2008, when a Congress govt led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda was at the helm in Haryana. Special counsel Zoheb Hosain, who appeared for ED through video-conferencing, submitted that the investigation found false declarations were made in the land deal. Skylight Hospitality, a firm in which Vadra held 99% shares, purchased land measuring 3.5 acres worth crores of rupees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Great news for Filipinos! Read More The sale deed falsely declared that Rs 7.5 crore had been paid, when in reality no payment was made as the cheque was never cashed. The money was paid at a later stage to avoid stamp duty, and this was corroborated by key witnesses, the counsel submitted. The land was later sold to DLF for a higher amount, and this aspect was still being scrutinised, ED told the court. The central probe agency further argued that money laundering and enjoyment of proceeds of crime continued even today. The ED chargesheet, filed on July 17, names 11 individuals and entities as accused, including Vadra, his company Skylight Hospitality, Onkareshwar Properties — which sold the land to Vadra's firm — and its promoters/directors Satyanand Yajee & K S Virk.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store