Reviving his flagship pledge from 2020, Tejashwi Yadav has promised one government job per family within 20 months if the alliance comes to power — an expansion of his earlier commitment to provide 10 lakh jobs. According to him, this initiative will generate around 2.8 crore employment opportunities, forming the centrepiece of his campaign to attract 1.63 crore young voters aged 18–35. Tejashwi reiterated that his mission is to build a “developed Bihar powered by the youth.”

1. Women-Centric Initiatives: The ‘Mai Bahen Maan Yojana’

Determined to challenge Nitish Kumar’s strong female vote base, Tejashwi has announced the Mai Bahen Maan Yojana, under which women will receive ₹2,500 per month (₹30,000 annually). The manifesto also promises a women’s college in every sub-division and degree colleges in 136 blocks to enhance higher education access.

The focus on direct cash transfers mirrors a successful national trend — between November 2023 and November 2024, similar welfare schemes were introduced in 13 states, with 8 of those governments returning to power, marking an 89% success rate.

2. Promises for Government Employees

The alliance seeks to win over roughly four lakh contractual employees by offering regularisation, improved working conditions, and an increase of at least ₹8,000 per month in salaries. Other commitments include annual increments, promotions, and biannual DA revisions.

It also proposes the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), already implemented in Mahagathbandhan-ruled states such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

3. Addressing Teachers’ and Workers’ Demands

Acknowledging growing frustration among teachers and healthcare workers, the manifesto introduces a transfer policy allowing postings within 70 km of their home district. The move comes after multiple protests against the Nitish government’s transfer policies — some of which resulted in lathi-charge incidents — and is expected to resonate especially with female employees.

4. Outreach to Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs)

With EBCs making up 36% of Bihar’s population, Tejashwi’s manifesto promises to introduce a Most Backward Class Atrocities Prevention Act and ensure reservation and representation proportional to their population share.

5. Reforms for Farmers: MSP and Mandi System

The Grand Alliance plans to revive the Mandi system — a major demand of Bihar’s farmers — and ensure MSP (Minimum Support Price) on all crops. The manifesto also includes provisions for sharecropper welfare, an issue that has remained partially addressed in previous state budgets.

Experts Call It Populist but Politically Effective

Political commentators have questioned the feasibility of Tejashwi’s ambitious promises. Senior journalist Amarnath Tiwari noted, “There’s nothing new in this manifesto. It repeats old commitments without explaining how they’ll be financed. Parties rarely implement manifestos once in power.”

Another analyst, Praveen Baghi, labelled it “populist and unrealistic,” warning that such measures could strain Bihar’s finances. “Removing the 50% reservation cap isn’t within the state’s jurisdiction, and there’s no clarity on how revenue will be raised,” he added.

However, Baghi conceded that the manifesto successfully appeals to emotion and aspiration, particularly among youth and women — two groups that could decisively influence the election outcome. “People often vote with hope, not arithmetic,” he said. “Tejashwi has spoken to every section — and politically, that could work in his favour.”