Tejashwi Yadav promises pension, insurance for Panchayat representatives if INDIA bloc wins Bihar polls
With less than two weeks to go for Bihar’s high-stakes Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Opposition Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday unveiled a set of key welfare promises aimed at strengthening the rural governance network.
Addressing a press conference in Patna alongside Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani, who is the alliance’s Deputy Chief Ministerial face, Yadav said the INDIA bloc, if voted to power, will double the allowances of Panchayati Raj representatives and extend pension and insurance benefits to them.
“Representatives of panchayats and Gram Kachahari (village courts) had been demanding pension benefits. We have decided that they will receive a pension. They will also be covered under a ₹50 lakh insurance scheme,” Yadav said.
He further announced that the alliance would increase margins for those engaged in the public distribution system (PDS) and provide interest-free loans of ₹5 lakh to traditional workers in trades such as pottery, carpentry, and blacksmithing.
Accusing the ruling NDA government of failing Bihar over the last two decades, Yadav said, “People are fed up with the incumbent government. They gave them 20 years. We just want 20 months to show what we can do. We will make Bihar the Number 1 state.”
Bihar votes in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results to be declared on November 14.
The NDA alliance comprises Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the BJP, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The Mahagathbandhan or INDIA bloc includes the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Sahani’s VIP.
Rejecting speculation about rifts within the Opposition alliance, Yadav said, “Mukesh Sahani and I are campaigning together. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will also join the campaign soon. A meeting has already been held to finalise our manifesto.”
Taking a swipe at the ruling coalition, he added, “No one seems to see the issues within the NDA.”
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