Sarma, speaking in an interview, said the Bihar government had approached him for guidance on implementing a women-focused welfare scheme. “About five months ago, I sent my bureaucrats to Patna to present the ‘Jeevika ₹10,000 Model’ before then Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena and Development Commissioner Pratyay Amrit,” he explained. “Following this presentation, the model was incorporated into Bihar’s scheme.”
The Assam CM highlighted that a similar strategy had succeeded in Madhya Pradesh. The Ladli Behna Yojana, based on Assam’s Arunodaya initiative, provided Rs 1,000 per month to eligible women and played a key role in BJP’s return to power in the 2023 MP Assembly elections.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who took oath for a record 10th term on Thursday, oversaw the implementation of the scheme, which analysts say strengthened women voters’ support for the NDA.
On ticket distribution, the NDA fielded 34 women candidates in the 243-seat assembly, including 13 each from BJP and JDU, accounting for 12.8% of the total. The Mahagathbandhan fielded 30 women candidates, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, contesting all seats, nominated 25 women, far below his earlier promise of 40% representation.
Sarma’s statement underscores the growing role of welfare schemes in electoral strategy, particularly those targeting women, and signals potential replication of Assam-inspired models in other states ahead of forthcoming elections.
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