With Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections later this year, political parties are intensifying their campaigns and making various promises to attract voters. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently announced a threefold increase in social assistance pensions. Reacting to this, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused the government of copying the RJD’s initiatives. He stated that the pension hike was a result of the government’s ‘tension’ due to the impending arrival of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government. Yadav claimed that the government was merely replicating the RJD’s announced plans.
During a media interaction, Yadav said that Kumar announced the pension increase out of election-related pressure, further alleging that the government was acting as a copycat. He emphasized that the RJD had proposed increasing pensions seven months prior and had consistently advocated for it in the budget. Yadav asserted that he had compelled the government to raise the pension amount.
In his statements, Yadav targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, suggesting the CM was in an ‘unconscious state’. He criticized the two Deputy Chief Ministers, accusing them of being preoccupied with attacking Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. He labeled one as a ‘loud mouth’ and the other as a ‘foul mouth’. He also alleged that the BJP would only use Nitish Kumar during the elections and discard him afterward.
Notably, on Saturday, the Nitish Kumar government announced a threefold increase in the social assistance pension. The Chief Minister announced on social media that widows, senior citizens, and the differently-abled under the social security pension scheme would now receive ₹1100 per month instead of ₹400. This increase is set to benefit 10,969,255 beneficiaries, with the revised amount to be disbursed by the 10th of each month, starting from July. Following the announcement, the race to claim credit has commenced.