Big promise: one crore jobs
Addressing supporters at the Minapur high school ground, Nitish Kumar said the NDA government would create work opportunities for one crore youths over the next five years. “Keep it in your mind and also remember it,” he told the crowd, urging voters to reward the ruling combine for its development record.
Kumar framed the promise within a larger narrative of security and governance. He contrasted the present situation with earlier years when, he said, people feared venturing out at night and communal tensions were more frequent. “Today there is no atmosphere of fear,” he said, adding that schools, health facilities and recruitment drives had transformed the state.
Education and staffing gains
The chief minister pointed to his government’s recruitment of 2.58 lakh teachers after necessary clearances and the expansion of schools across Bihar. He argued that these steps had improved education access and quality statewide, a claim he presented as evidence of sustained governance over two decades.
Women’s welfare central to campaign
Nitish Kumar highlighted women’s empowerment schemes as a pillar of his government’s work. He cited the formation of self-help groups and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana under which Rs 10,000 each was reportedly transferred to more than one crore beneficiaries. The programme, Kumar said, demonstrates the administration’s focus on financial inclusion for women.
Political barbs and past alliances
The rally also saw sharp political language. The chief minister criticised opponents and referenced past, short-lived alliances with the RJD in 2015 and 2022 — describing those partnerships as disillusioning. “Because of circumstances, I had to tie up with those people, but it did not take me long to realise that they were good for nothing. Now I am back (in NDA) for good,” he said.
Kumar took aim at rivals over governance and selective criticism, including a reference to a predecessor who had appointed his spouse as chief minister. The remarks underlined the campaign tone as the JD(U) seeks a record fifth consecutive term.
Local candidates and leadership on stage
The Minapur rally featured prominent local and state-level leaders. JD(U) candidate Ajay Kushwaha and BJP nominee Rama Nishad — wife of former BJP leader Ajay Nishad — were present alongside JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha. Their presence signals an organised seat-level mobilisation as the NDA moves into active electioneering.
Centre-state cooperation and governance pitch
Kumar lauded cooperation with the Narendra Modi-led central government, saying joint efforts had accelerated infrastructure, healthcare and law-and-order improvements. He emphasised the administration’s sensitivity to communal sites by ensuring fencing and protection for places of worship of all communities, which he said had reduced tensions.
What to watch next
As campaign rhetoric intensifies, observers will watch whether Nitish Kumar’s employment pledge and welfare claims translate into targeted campaign promises, manifestos and local outreach. The JD(U)’s ground game and its alliance coordination with BJP will be critical in translating the development narrative into votes.
