Tejashwi Targets NDA Over Bihar’s Development, BJP Counters With Data
A political war of numbers has erupted in Bihar after Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of failing to improve the state’s development despite years of what it calls a “double-engine government.”
In a detailed post on social media on Thursday, Tejashwi alleged that Bihar continues to rank at the bottom of most development indicators even after decades of NDA rule at both the state and central levels.
He claimed that Bihar remains the “most unique state in the country” where the same alliance has governed for years with support from the Centre, yet the state continues to lag behind in multiple socio-economic parameters.
According to Tejashwi, Bihar is still the poorest state in India and records the highest migration, high levels of crime and corruption, and the highest unemployment rate. He also said the state has the highest level of multidimensional poverty.
The RJD leader further alleged that Bihar ranks at the bottom in several indicators including literacy rate, per capita income, farmers’ income, per capita investment, electricity consumption and computer literacy. He also criticised the state’s education system, healthcare infrastructure and industrial growth, saying Bihar is lagging behind in nearly every development measure.
Tejashwi accused the government of avoiding accountability and running the administration through bureaucratic control, misuse of state resources and caste-based politics.
BJP Rejects Claims, Highlights Development Progress
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly rejected Tejashwi’s allegations and responded with its own set of statistics.
Party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said Bihar’s current situation should be compared with the period between 1990 and 2005, when the state was governed by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi.
According to Kumar, poverty during that period exceeded 60 percent while the literacy rate stood at around 47 percent. He said the state began to see improvements after the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar came to power in 2005.
Citing a report by NITI Aayog, BJP leaders said multidimensional poverty in Bihar has declined significantly in recent years. Government data shows the poverty rate fell from 54.4 percent in 2005–06 to about 26.59 percent in 2022–23.
The government also claimed that around 3.77 crore people have been lifted out of poverty during this period, the second-highest number in the country after Uttar Pradesh.
Employment, Investment and Exports
The BJP further highlighted improvements in employment and investment in the state.
According to the party, the government has provided around 10 lakh government jobs while creating another 10 lakh employment opportunities. It also claimed that more than 3,500 industrial units have been set up over the past two decades.
BJP leaders also pointed to growth in exports, saying Bihar’s exports have increased from around Rs 25 crore to nearly Rs 17,000 crore.
They added that the unemployment rate in Bihar stood at about 3.9 percent in 2023–24, which they said is lower than the national average.
Debate Over Law and Order
The political exchange also extended to the issue of law and order.
Neeraj Kumar said more than 3,600 murders were reported in Bihar in 2001, while the figure has declined to around 2,500 in recent years. He cited data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to claim that serious crimes have decreased over time.
The BJP also pointed to improvements in education and income levels.
According to government data, Bihar’s literacy rate has increased from around 47 percent in 2001 to nearly 74 percent today. The state government said it has expanded schools, introduced ICT laboratories, and strengthened educational infrastructure.
In terms of income, officials claim Bihar’s per capita income has risen from about Rs 8,000 in 2005 to nearly Rs 76,000 now.
