The decisions taken by the Union Cabinet today are not only a major steps towards the development of the infrastructure, but their implications are also directly related to politics and electoral equations. Especially in view of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, these decisions have a lot of importance.
Let us tell you that there are two big projects of Bihar in today’s crops of the cabinet. These include the approval of doubling of Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya railway line and the Sahebganj-Araraj-Betia section of four lanes. The railway project will provide direct relief to the aspirational districts like Nalanda, Rajgir and Gaya-Nawada. These are the areas where the lack of development has been an election issue for a long time. Religious and tourism point of view will not only increase economic activities but will also open local employment and self -employment opportunities. This will affect the section of rural Bihar, which traditionally sees its livelihood with the railway.
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Talking about the road project, the decision to make NH-139 W four lane can prove to be the lifeline of North Bihar. In districts like Champaran, Gopalganj and Siwan, this investment will directly affect the rural economy, access to the market and cross-border trade. This is the same area where it has been challenging to maintain the election hold of BJP and NDA alliance. The promise of huge shortage in travel time from the new road, encouragement of tourism circuits and millions of employment generation will be introduced as “guarantee of development” in the electoral language.
Apart from this, it is also very important to approve a bonus related to productivity of 78 days to railway employees. Let us tell you that Bihar has been a big center of railway employees and their socio-political influence is quite widespread. The announcement of bonus just before the festive season can become a ‘Goodwill Factor’ for the BJP-NDA.
In addition, the decision to invest Rs 69,725 crore in shipbuilding and maritime sector will strengthen the BJP’s “infrastructure manufacturer” at the national level, not directly connecting with Bihar. This package also underlines the geopolitical power of India and gives a positive message to everyone, from the industrialist class to the youth seeking employment.
From a political point of view, the time of these decisions is very important. Before the Bihar elections, convey the message that the central government is taking big decisions not only for the state but for the whole country, the main basis of the BJP’s election campaign. For Nitish Kumar’s JDU and other allies, these announcements also provide an opportunity to show concrete work among the voters. These decisions will be beneficial in the long run in terms of infrastructure. Railways and road projects will reduce logistics costs, provide environmental benefits and increase business connectivity. At the same time, shipbuilding package will give India a new identity in global shipping competition.
Overall, it can be said that today’s cabinet decisions will strengthen the BJP-NDA alliance on the electoral ground and will try to convince the people of Bihar that the development car is on the right track. The question is whether voters will feel it as a solid change, or will give it a limited impact by considering it a part of electoral politics. The real examination of the election will depend on this.