Begusarai: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, addressing an election rally in Cheria Bariarpur, Begusarai, on Thursday, asserted that his government transformed Bihar from a state of “fear and darkness” into one of law, development, and opportunity. The rally, held at Khodawandpur block ground, was attended by JDU candidate Abhishek Anand, BJP’s Surendra Mehta from Bachhwara, and LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Sanjay Paswan from Bakhri.
Nitish began his speech by recalling Bihar’s condition before 2005, taking direct aim at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). “The situation was very bad in the past. People wouldn’t leave their homes after dusk. There were no roads, no electricity, no hospitals. When our government came, we worked for everyone’s welfare,” he said.
The Chief Minister underscored his administration’s focus on law and order. “We ended the atmosphere of fear and conflict. In 2006, we began fencing graveyards, and in 2016, we did the same for temples to prevent disputes. Whether Hindu or Muslim, we have worked for all,” he said, positioning himself as a leader of social harmony.
Nitish also made a major employment pledge, announcing that one crore youth would be provided jobs in the next five years. “We promised 10 lakh jobs earlier, and today, 40–50 lakh people are employed. Now, we will go further,” he declared.
Highlighting his record on women’s empowerment, Nitish said Bihar had set national benchmarks. “We gave 50% reservation to women in panchayats in 2006, 35% in the police in 2013, and 35% in government jobs in 2016. Today, Bihar has the highest number of women police personnel in India,” he said. He also cited the success of JEEViKA, a self-help group programme started with World Bank assistance in 2006, which now includes 1.4 crore women.
Positioning his government as the guardian of Bihar’s progress, Nitish Kumar urged voters to compare governance before and after his tenure — from “darkness to development.”
