In anticipation of the Bihar assembly elections, the central and state governments are actively targeting young people and women. Speaking from Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced schemes valued at over Rs 62,000 crore, targeted at young people across the country. For Bihar, the package includes a new Karpoori Thakur Skill University, interest-free education loans, and the promise of increased job opportunities. The BJP is marketing these as a major positive development for Bihar’s young population.
The NDA government at the center, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration in the state, are working to garner support from youth and women before the elections. During a skill convocation held in Delhi, PM Modi announced a series of initiatives.
The programs involve the creation of the Karpoori Thakur Skill University, interest-free education loans, augmented scholarship amounts, and the provision of increased job opportunities for the youth of Bihar. The Prime Minister emphasized that these are a ‘double bonus’ for Bihar’s youth. He also mentioned that the reduction in GST has made goods like motorcycles and scooters more affordable, thereby providing additional benefits for young people.
PM Modi took the opportunity to criticize the opposition, pointing out that the Congress and RJD had undermined Bihar’s education system in the past, forcing many students to pursue education elsewhere. In response, the RJD and Congress have labeled these initiatives as election-focused inducements. Congress leader Akhilesh Singh claimed that the central and state governments are attempting to appeal to youth and women by introducing numerous schemes just before the elections.
However, the BJP and JDU argue that these schemes are not politically motivated, but are instead designed to benefit the youth and women of Bihar. Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan highlighted the NDA’s focus on education, employment, and the empowerment of women. He cited the appointment of 2.5 lakh teachers in Bihar, the creation of new ITIs and skill labs, and the provision of interest-free loans to students.
The BJP suggests the opposition is showing clear signs of concern, as evidenced by their criticism of the schemes. The legacy of Karpoori Thakur and the youth-focused initiatives of PM Modi and CM Nitish are intended to be a direct electoral message to the public. The impact of these combined central-state schemes on the voting behavior of Bihar’s youth and female voters remains uncertain.