Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the chief ministerial face of the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, announced on Tuesday a one-time annual financial aid of Rs 30,000 to women under the 'Mai Bahin Maan Yojana' if voted to power, positioning it as a direct counter to the ruling National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) women-centric schemes. Addressing a press conference two days before the first phase of Bihar's assembly elections, Yadav pledged to deposit the full amount into beneficiaries' accounts on Makar Sankranti, January 14, 2026, in response to demands from women voters he encountered during his campaign. This adjustment from the alliance's manifesto—originally promising Rs 2,500 monthly starting December 1—aims to provide immediate economic relief, with Yadav claiming widespread excitement among "mothers and sisters" for the initiative as a step toward "economic justice".

The promise escalates the pre-poll battle for Bihar's 3.5 crore women voters, who constitute nearly 47% of the 7.42 crore electorate finalised after a special intensive revision by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The NDA's 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana', launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in September 2025 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual inauguration, has already disbursed Rs 10,000 as seed capital to over 1.21 crore women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) under the Jeevika programme, enabling small business startups in rural and urban areas. Valued at Rs 7,500 crore, the scheme targets financial independence through entrepreneurship, with additional phases promising up to Rs 2 lakh in support for successful ventures, drawing praise for empowering Jeevika 'Didis' but criticism from the opposition as a "loan disguised as aid" that requires repayment.

Yadav's outreach extends beyond financial aid, including pledges to regularise all Jeevika women as permanent government employees with Rs 30,000 monthly salaries, waive interest on their loans, and provide Rs 2,000 extra allowances plus Rs 5 lakh insurance coverage—directly challenging the NDA's handling of SHGs. He also reiterated manifesto commitments like one government job per family within 20 days of forming the government, 200 units of free electricity per household, and Rs 500 gas cylinders for the poor. For farmers, Yadav promised bonuses of Rs 300 per quintal on paddy and Rs 400 on wheat over the Minimum Support Price (MSP), tapping into rural discontent amid Bihar's agrarian economy, where over 70% of the population depends on agriculture.

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The Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled across 243 constituencies in two phases on November 6 (121 seats) and November 11 (122 seats) with results on November 14, mark a high-stakes rematch since the 2020 polls, where NDA secured 125 seats against Mahagathbandhan's 110. The current assembly's term ends on November 22, 2025, amid a voter list overhaul that added 1.2 crore new names, emphasising youth (the 18-29 age group at 35%) and women. Early voting has surged, with parties deploying over 10,000 observers per phase to ensure transparency, as ECI mandates polls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with provisions for queued voters.

This flurry of women-focused SOPs reflects a broader national trend in state elections, where gender budgeting has risen 2.5 times since 2014, yet Bihar's female labour force participation lags at 20% against the national 37%. Analysts view Yadav's aggressive bidding—potentially costing Rs 10,500 crore annually for 3.5 crore women—as a populist gambit to reclaim ground lost in 2020, while NDA counters with infrastructure promises like 10 new industrial parks and Rs 1 lakh crore investments. As campaigning peaks, the contest hinges on whether economic pledges translate to votes in a state grappling with 7.5% unemployment and migration crises, setting the stage for a transformative verdict on Bihar's development trajectory.

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