Aurangabad: Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday injected mythological imagery into the Bihar election campaign, likening the NDA’s five-party alliance to the “five Pandavas” and insisting the coalition would win the 2025 assembly polls.
Addressing a rally at the Inter School grounds in Kutumba, Aurangabad, Manjhi said chief minister Nitish Kumar remained “honest” and had “no corruption charges even after two decades in office”. He urged voters to support the NDA candidate, arguing that sustained development in Bihar was possible only under the current leadership.
Manjhi said the NDA’s vision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for a “developed India”, praising ongoing infrastructure and welfare work. “Nitish ji has delivered development in every sector over 20 years,” he said. “Our alliance has five parties — just like the five Pandavas who won the Mahabharat. This time, Bihar will choose us.”
He highlighted improvements in electricity supply, claiming Bihar had moved from “three to four hours of power” to round-the-clock availability. The state, he said, now receives 8,500 MW compared with 700 MW earlier. Roads, he added, now allow travel “from any corner of Bihar to Patna in four to five hours”.
Manjhi praised the expansion of schooling, teacher recruitment and welfare schemes such as school uniforms, bicycles, scholarships and enhanced pensions. “The pension for the elderly has increased from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,100 and will reach Rs. 2,000 soon,” he said. He also promised special educational facilities for Bhuiyan and Mushahar children and cited support schemes like Rs. 10,000 assistance for Jeevika didis.
Turning to the opposition, Manjhi attacked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of providing a job to every household, calling it “a lie”. Bihar’s current budget, he said, could not sustain such a commitment. “The state’s budget is ₹367 crore, while this promise would require ₹7,000 crore,” he argued. “It is baseless.”
