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

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
18 minutes ago
- Hans India
Party workers' role key in delivering schemes: Gottipati
Addanki: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar announced that the coalition government, under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, aims to ensure that welfare schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries and effectively communicate its initiatives to all citizens across the state. The minister, along with the Bapatla MP Tenneti Krishna Prasad unveiled a statue of NT Rama Rao and NTR Kalakshetram, and participated in 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu-Intintiki Telugu Desam' programme, at Chandaluru village in J Panguluru mandal, on Sunday. During the village-level campaign, Minister Gottipati visited households to assess the implementation of coalition government welfare programmes and gathered feedback from beneficiaries. Additionally, he distributed three-wheeler scooters to ten differently-abled individuals. Speaking on the occasion, Gottipati praised NTR as the pioneer of welfare schemes for the poor, noting that programmes like two-rupee rice and women's property rights are still implemented by numerous states nationwide. The minister announced infrastructure funding, including Rs 30 lakh for road construction in Chandaluru village, Rs 2 crore for the Chandaluru-Gangavaram BT road, and Rs 35 lakh for constructing a dining hall at the district council high school. Gottipati explained that the primary objective of the 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu- Intintiki Telugu Desam' initiative is to monitor how welfare schemes reach eligible beneficiaries during the coalition government's 15-month tenure. He emphasised that programmes such as pensions, Talliki Vandanam, and the Deepam gas scheme distribution should be verified by relevant department officials and secretariat staff. He emphasised the crucial role of party workers in implementing government schemes.


Hans India
18 minutes ago
- Hans India
Bhatti takes stock of flood prep in Khammam, Kothagudem districts
Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu reviewed the flood conditions during the current monsoon season with district officials from Khammam and Kothagudem. The meeting, held on Sunday, focused on the need for alertness, the provision of relief measures for affected individuals, welfare schemes, and the establishment of additional emergency facilities. Attendees included Khammam District In-charge Minister Vakati Srihari, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, as well as district Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and other public representatives. The Deputy Chief Minister assured that solar pump sets, sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, and horticultural crops would be provided free of charge to farmers under the ROFR Act through the Indira Giri Jal Vikasam scheme, with a total expenditure of Rs 12,600 crore planned over three years. However, it was noted that some MLAs are delaying the submission of proposals for Roads and Buildings (R&B) and Panchayat Raj roads. The government has prepared a budget of Rs 20,000 crore for constructing all roads. The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that there is no shortage of urea, assuring farmers that they need not worry. He emphasized that the Indiramma housing scheme will be remembered as a significant achievement. Additionally, he urged authorities to develop plans for raising fish fry through women's groups in every district. He stated, 'We warmly welcome Vakiti Srihari as the district in-charge minister. His experience, having started his career as a public representative in local bodies, will be invaluable for the development of the joint Khammam district.' The meeting acknowledged that, so far, the Godavari floods are at a normal level, and no danger warnings have been issued. However, flood relief measures should be initiated by all authorities, and life jackets must be readily available. A control room should remain operational until the end of the rainy season. As part of Vana Mahotsav, useful plants should be distributed to the community, benefiting everyone. Officials were directed to provide information regarding the number of plants planted over the last ten years, the costs associated with planting them, and the survival rate of those plants. In a major panchayat, detail the number of plants planted in the past ten years, the costs incurred, the survival rate, and the steps that should be taken to ensure their survival. A complete study should be conducted as part of a pilot project, with all relevant details provided. On the education front, he highlighted the need for integrated schools to be established on 25 acres, with all integrated schools serving as role models. Welfare and Gurukul students should receive meals according to a set menu, with no compromises on quality. Additionally, continuous medical check-ups should be conducted for students throughout the rainy season.


Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
Tej Pratap Yadav says will contest from Mahua in Bihar Election 2025: ‘Chacha nahi banenge CM'
Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the RJD by his father Lalu Prasad, announced last week that he would contest the upcoming Bihar elections from the Mahua assembly constituency in the Vaishali district as an Independent candidate. Tej Pratap is currently the MLA of Hasanpur seat in Samastipur. He said on Saturday evening, "Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from Mahua assembly seat as an Independent candidate. My opponents must have started to feel an itch." He said that "Team Tej Pratap" is a medium to reach the people. "I have people's support... a large number of people are now connected with my 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav', a social media platform to reach out to people," he was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. He took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying he would not retain his post after the assembly polls. "I am confident that 'chacha' (Nitish) will not become the CM... those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them," he said. Few days back, several reports claimed that Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav has "rebranded" himself. During his visit to the Mahua constituent assembly of Bihar earlier in July, Tej Pratap's supporters were seen holding — not an RJD flag – but a green-and-yellow flag with 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav' written on it. Tej Pratap's move had sparked rumours in the political circles, with many speculating whether he would launch a new political party or contest the upcoming Bihar Elections as an independent candidate. Tej Pratap, a former Bihar minister, was expelled from the RJD on May 25 by his father Lalu Prasad for six years. He was expelled a day after he reportedly confessed on social media to being "in a relationship" with a woman named Anushka. He, however, later deleted the Facebook post with a claim that his page was "hacked". Lalu Prasad also disowned Tej Pratap due to his "irresponsible behaviour". A few days after his expulsion from the party, Tej Pratap had alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav. He had voiced his sentiments in a couple of posts on his X handle, blaming the crisis on 'Jaichand', a metaphor for traitors. His expulsion came barely a few months ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, which the RJD will fight under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Born to Prasad and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers of Bihar, the two brothers are among four of nine siblings active in politics. Tej Pratap Yadav had made his political debut in the assembly polls of 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet. The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to take place at the end of this year. Currently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds power in the state under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar.