Patna (Bihar) [India], October 28 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP's candidate from Tarapur, Samrat Choudhary, asked the Mahagathbandhan to declare the source of expenditure and the budget for the poll promise to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state.
As the Mahagathbandhan released its manifesto, making the promise, Choudhary asked the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to apologise for alleged "anarchy" under the Lalu Prasad Yadav's regime in Bihar.
"They should tell where the money will come from, what the budget will be and how these things will be done...People have to be told about Lalu ji's anarchy. An apology has to be made... So, this is a mere announcement in the manifesto," the BJP leader told reporters.
Earlier today, the Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD and Congress, released its manifesto titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran,' promising to pass a law within 20 days of forming government, to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state.
According to the manifesto, under the 'Mai-Behin Maan Yojana', women will receive financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month from December 1 for the next five years.
The Opposition's alliance promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). OPS has been on the Congress agenda since the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh restored it soon after assuming office. Congress had also included it in its manifesto for the Haryana Assembly polls.
Mahagathbandhan has promised to put the Waqf (Amendment) Act on hold, and to make the management of Waqf properties "welfare-oriented and transparent".
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament earlier this year after a detailed debate, with several opposition parties opposing it. The President gave assent to the Bill on April 5.
Adding to the list of promises for the religious minorities, the management of Buddhist temples located in Bodh Gaya will be handed over to the people of the Buddhist community.
The poll promises also include an increase in the current 20 per cent reservation for the Most Backward Classes in Panchayat and Municipal bodies to 30 per cent. For Scheduled Castes (SCs), this limit will be raised from 16 per cent to 20 per cent, and a proportionate increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) will also be ensured, the manifesto said.
Bihar is witnessing the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.
Samrat Choudhary will contest on the Tarapur seat as NDA's candidate against Mahagathbandhan's candidate and RJD leader Arun Kumar, and Jan Suraaj's Santosh Kumar Singh.
The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.