BJP schedules Bihar election manifesto release post-Chhath Puja

Patna — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will release its Bihar election manifesto after Chhath Puja on October 28, according to sources familiar with the plan. The state goes to polls on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14.

The party highlighted that the elections will be a contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which it is a part, and the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan. However, allies have decided to release individual manifestos instead of a common agenda.

A senior BJP functionary said, “Our manifesto is ready and the campaign has already begun. But as Chhath Puja is one of Bihar’s main festivals, we will release the manifesto after the festivities. We will also intensify the campaign with rallies addressed by senior leaders such as Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.”

From October 4 to 20, the BJP conducted a Sujhav Yatra to gather feedback from voters. “Through the Ghar Ghar Jan Sampark Abhiyan, our cadre reached students, first-time voters, women, working professionals, and farmers. We sought their suggestions on existing schemes and future policies,” said another party official.

The party formed a 13-member committee to draft the manifesto. Sources said it will focus on development, infrastructure, law and order, and economic growth.

“We aim to create infrastructure that attracts investment, curbs migration, and empowers entrepreneurs,” said the senior functionary.

While both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan court voters with promises and sops, the BJP has criticized the RJD for making “hollow promises.”

The functionary added, “Tejashwi Yadav has claimed he will provide permanent jobs to Jeevika Didis. Does he know the burden that would put on the exchequer? Bihar’s total budget for 2025-26 is ₹3,16,895.02 crore, while permanent jobs alone would cost ₹4,22,000 crore. People are not fools; they can see through false promises.”

The criticism follows the NDA government’s recent ₹10,000 disbursement to eligible women under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Tejashwi Yadav had promised permanent government jobs with ₹30,000 monthly salaries and interest-free loans to women in Jeevika or self-help groups if voted to power.

A second party source said, “The NDA has already accomplished a lot. But we have more work to do. Decades of RJD misrule and its impact on law and order will remain central to our campaign and will feature prominently in the manifesto.”

The BJP campaign will combine targeted rallies, door-to-door outreach, and public engagement to reach voters across Bihar. Party strategists said the manifesto will highlight governance achievements, while contrasting them with the Opposition’s promises.

With elections just weeks away, the manifesto release after Chhath Puja aims to energize supporters and provide a roadmap for voters ahead of polling. The NDA hopes to leverage its administrative record and development agenda to counter the Opposition’s appeal.