Has the BJP launched preparations for Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, scheduled for November? Did Nirmala Sitharaman begin the preparations with the Union Budget 2025?
Before Nitish Kumar-led NDA goes to polls in Bihar, the BJP has cushioned its position by making many announcements that may directly attract the people of the state and give the ruling coalition an advantage over the opposition coalition of Mahagathbandhan.
Sitharaman’s Gift To Bihar: Makhana Board
While presenting her eighth Union Budget on the floor of the house, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the setting up of a Makhana Board in Bihar.
The board will help Makhana farmers get benefits from the Centre’s various schemes.
Makhana is an agricultural produce grown in North Bihar or Mithilanchal. Hundreds of thousands of people in the disctricts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supaul, Sitamarhi, Araria, Katihar, Saharsa, Purnia and Kishangunj are involved in the culutivation, processing, packaging and sale of this protein-rich produce.
Its economic importance can be gauged by the fact that India exported 25,130 million metric tons of Makhana in FY 2023-24. As lakhs of people, generally poor villagers are involved in its cultivation, it has become an important economic symbol as well.
Greenfeild Airport, Koshi Canal
Nirmala Sitharaman also anounced to set up a greenfeild airport in Bihata, situated near capital city of Patna under the Udaan scheme.
In yet another attempt of consolidating the political hold of the ruling party, Nirmala Sitharaman announced a canal in Koshi region of Mithilanchal.
The Western Kosi Canal System already exists and it irrigates districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur. India built the Kosi Barrage in Nepal as part of an agreement with the neighbouring country.
It is believed that lakhs of families will be affected if the Western canal system of Koshi is extended.
IIT Patna To Be Expanded
Besides, Nirmala Sitharaman also announced to extend the infrastructure facilities of IIT Patna.
Analysts believe, the Union Budget 2025 will give the BJP an advantage over the oppositon parties of the RJD, Congress, the CPI and the CPIML.
The inconsistency of JD(U) and its leader Nitish Kumar came to the flash point last month once again when former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav said that the doors for Kumar was always open and he can come and join the opposition ranks anytime he likes. Nitish simply replied by saying, “Come on leave it”, (arre chhoriya na).
The leader who got the subriquet of “palturam” for making U-turn five times and switching sides to remain in power, is under tremendous pressue of the BJP.
How Will Union Budget 2025 Impact Bihar Elections?
Though the JD(U) got only 43 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly, Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister. The BJP, that won as many as 74 seats deployed his two MLAs as deputy chief ministers.
After winning 12 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the bargaining chip of the JD(U) went up as the BJP fell short of a majority and needed the support of JDU and N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP to form the government.
Political analysts believe, Nitish Kumar finds it difficult to work with saffron party due to Hindutva politics of the saffron party. The possibilities of his quitting the NDA before the Bihar Elections can not be ruled out.
With the anncouncements made by Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2025,it is clear tht the BJP may get an edge at the time of election.
Congress Questions Intentions
The opposition reacted sharply, though cautiously to the budegt annoucements related to Bihar. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the Centre’s boost for Bihar “natural” because assemly elections are due this year. However, he questioned why Andhra Pradesh had been “cruelly ignored”.
The Congress leader said, “Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why is the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?”
