The politics of Bihar has once again been colored in elections. In every election meeting, from the streets to the social media, there is a flood of announcements and promises of free money. Like before, this election season also appears to be drenched in ‘Rewari culture’. Be it Grand Alliance or NDA, in the race to outdo each other, both the alliances are making such promises which sound attractive, but serious questions arise on their practicality and economic potential. How will these election promises be fulfilled or will it be a betrayal of the public? Every party is making a flurry of announcements to woo the voters, but hardly anyone has thought about where the funds for these populist schemes will come from, how they will be fulfilled and whether it will not further burden the weak economic condition of the state.
This Bihar election is not special because it will decide the future of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been the face of the state for two decades. It is special because both the alliances are playing similar politics – of populist announcements. The Grand Alliance declared a ‘brilliant resolution’ two days ago. Only the election promises made by Congress, RJD and other allies in the past have been included in it. On the other hand, the list of promises of NDA is also very long. In the beginning, the Nitish government promised Rs 10,000, 125 units of free electricity, one crore jobs, reservation in jobs for women, increased pension under the Chief Minister Mahila Rozgar Yojana – this is how Nitish started the election campaign. In response, the Grand Alliance has promised to provide 200 units of free electricity, government job to one member of every family, Rs. 2.5 thousand per month to women, and much more. The sky-high announcements of the alliance of both are tempting, they are misleading the public, it is simply a conspiracy to buy votes. NITI Aayog data shows that Bihar’s share in the country’s population is more than 9 percent, but its contribution to GDP declined to 2.8 percent in 2021-22. Bihar’s per capita income is only 30 percent of the country’s average per capita income, while unemployment is high. The ratio of debt to GDP of the state was 39.6 percent in 2022-23.
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The biggest problem facing Bihar is to generate sources of income. Its own tax revenue is only 23 percent of the total earnings and the share of grants from the Center is 21 percent. Jan Suraj claims that Rs 33 thousand crores will be required to complete the free schemes. If we accept this figure as true, then after deducting the expenses of daily work and schemes from the total budget of the state, about Rs 40 thousand crores are left. Will the promises made by announcing free raves be fulfilled? Both NDA and Grand Alliance are raising questions on each other’s announcements. However, in reality both should tell how they will fulfill these promises. Allowances for the unemployed, cash assistance to women, laptops for the youth, loan waiver for farmers – the flood of announcements made instead of strengthening democracy has trapped it in the populist trap. This situation is emerging as a new trend not only in Bihar but in the politics of the entire country, where the path to reach the seat of power is being decided not by the prudence of the public, but by the sweetness of temptations. This trend is not auspicious for democracy, because it turns voters into consumers and diverts politics from policy and entangles it in the mathematics of profit.
The concept of ‘Rewari culture’ as stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be fully realized in the politics of Bihar today. Free electricity, ration, travel or assistance schemes have now become mandatory conditions of election announcements. The objective of public welfare has been left behind, in front is only counting of votes. Influencing the voters through these announcements is a kind of soft corruption, where the procurement is not done openly, but the voter is taken mentally hostage. This trend is an attack on the soul of democracy, because it weakens the policies and principles and makes politics only a game of gaining power. Democracy will be strong only when elections are moral and ethical. Elections do not just mean victory and defeat, but determine the character and direction of the society. Moral politics is that in which public interest is considered supreme and not immediate profit. If political parties keep filling only attractive promises in their manifestos and there is no economic or social vision behind them, then it is playing with the soul of democracy. Voters should not be influenced by such announcements, but should see which party or leader is talking about long-term reforms, employment generation, education, health and good governance. Democracy is not a gift, it is a responsibility, it is the duty of the citizen to understand and fulfill it.
Vote should not be given for free facilities being given by anyone, but for future stability, good governance and true development. The conscience of the voter is the biggest power of democracy. If people take decisions based on emotions or greed, then both politics and governance will become corrupt. Similarly, parties should also exercise self-control and understand that attainment of power is not a means but an opportunity for service. Today, the biggest need is that a control mechanism should be created on election announcements, the Election Commission and NITI Aayog together should decide on rules that no party should make such promises in its manifesto which have no economic basis. Media should also play a leading role not only in publicizing the promises but also in reviewing them. Voter education campaigns should be conducted among the public so that people understand that voting is not a response to any inducement but a responsibility.
Actually, both the alliances are raising questions on each other’s announcements. The BJP-JD(U) alliance is trying to project Tejashwi’s image as an irresponsible dream-selling leader. Obviously, unless the promises are converted into concrete policy, they will remain mere decoration of speeches. The grand alliance should prepare its manifesto with economic feasibility rather than emotional appeal. This strategy will instill confidence in the public and weaken the attacks of the opposition. Tejashwi Yadav’s charisma, communication style and connect with the youth make him a big face in Bihar politics but his entire election strategy revolves around big promises. In politics, any promise becomes powerful when it has credibility, accuracy and possibility of implementation.
The sanctity of democracy will survive only when politics is governed by policy, when power becomes a medium of service and when voters take decisions as per their discretion. An enlightened state like Bihar should rise above the Rewari culture and choose politics based on development, employment, education, morality and good governance. Only then will democracy survive in its true sense and the coming generations will be able to proudly say – “We have not bought our future with votes, we have created it.”
– Lalit Garg
Writer, Journalist, Columnist