The rise of Bihar’s silent majority

In the Bihar of the 1990s, amidst Lalu’s Jungle Raj, dusk meant curfew. Women hurried home before dark, roads emptied out, and fear filled the air. Extortion, kidnappings, and political muscle were the order of the day. For the youth and women, opportunity was a distant dream, safety itself was uncertain.

Twenty years later, the picture could not be more different. Bihar’s women today are no longer confined indoors; they are riding scooters to work, running self-help groups, and voting in numbers that often outpace men.

A state once synonymous with Jungle Raj has turned its women and youth into a political and economic force. From divisive caste-based politics to the politics of appeasement, parties like Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), driven by parivarvad, often prioritized the development of their children rather than the youth and women of Bihar. They suppressed the aspirations of people and made them feel like this was their reality.

Over the years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar, no stone has been left unturned to transform Bihar from the image of a BIMARU rajya to a Viksit and Samriddh Bihar.

Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti have been the loudest supporters of PM Modi since 2014 and have entrusted their faith in the BJP-NDA government. In the 2020 Bihar elections, out of 243 total seats, 119 constituencies had more women than men on the voter list. Among those 119, the NDA secured 72 seats (60.5 per cent), while the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) won just 42 seats (35.3 per cent) .

As PM Modi says, “when a woman is developed whole society is developed. And women of Bihar have two brothers, Narendra and Nitish, who are tirelessly working for their overall well-being.”

On the contrary, Mahagathbandhan and Tejashwi Yadav are busy making fake and impractical promises to the people of Bihar, underestimating their political acumen. Their promise of giving government jobs to one person in every family and `30,000 monthly to Jeevika Didis which exceeds Bihar’s monthly budget and is practically impossible to fulfill. These are just attempts to woo women voters who have not supported them in previous elections. Meanwhile, the BJP-NDA government works with accountability and has fulfilled and made significant progress on its 2020 manifesto promises.

Accountability and Delivery

The most powerful story of Bihar’s revival is that of its women. They are now agents of change in every corner of the state. Under the `50,000 crore microfinance mission, 1.1 crore women have found not just financial support, but dignity. Through direct cash transfers of `10,000 each, the NDA government has enabled them to take charge of small enterprises from tailoring and dairy farming to local businesses that sustain families and communities. The Lakhpati Didi Yojana is no longer just a policy, it’s a movement of 30 lakh women breaking economic barriers and inspiring others to follow. The PM Ujjwala Scheme, with over 1 crore gas connections, has replaced the chulha’s smoke with a new breath of dignity Beyond economics, empowerment has meant safety and recognition. Every district now has a women’s police station, and 35,000 women officers serve in uniform — The highest in India. For countless Women, this symbolises trust in governance and a sense of belonging in public life. A provision of 35 per cent reservation for women has been implemented in all state government jobs.

Additionally, 50 per cent reservation for women has been introduced in the recruitment of teachers in primary schools. Bihar is also the first state in the country to provide 50 per cent reservation for women in local body elections giving them an opportunity to lead the society. And at home, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has given more than 41 lakh families 11 lakh higher than promised in 2020 manifesto a pucca house transforming not just rooftops, but lives. Clean sanitation, electricity, and ownership in a woman’s name have redefined what it means to live with dignity.

Youth Development: From Migration to Motivation

Bihar’s youth, once forced to migrate for opportunity, are now finding purpose at home. Skill training and entrepreneurship are turning aspiration into achievement.

Over 20 lakh youth have received formal training under the Bihar Skill Development Mission, and the establishment of the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University will institutionalize this shift  linking learning directly to employability. Since 2020 over 50 lakh government jobs and employment opportunities have been created.

Through the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE), a domicile provision now ensures local youth get first priority, helping talent stay rooted in Bihar. At the same time, Bihar is redefining accessibility in education  NIT Patna now offers engineering courses in Hindi , while the MBBS in Hindi initiative will soon make medical education available to thousands in their own language.

These reforms reflect a government which listens and understands that opportunity grows only when education and aspiration speak the same language. This is not Bihar that sends its young away, it is Bihar that calls them back.

Looking Ahead: Bihar@2025

A state once defined by migration is now working to become a destination of opportunity. NDA’s Sankalp Parta for Bihar 2025  focuses on expanding opportunity, empowering women, and creating jobs for the youth.

For women, the goal is financial and social strength. The success of microfinance schemes and the transfer of ?12,100 crore to 1.21 crore women have already sparked an entrepreneurial revolution in rural Bihar.

The new Jeevika Didi Credit Card will help self-help groups get loans up to ?15 lakh easily, allowing women to grow small businesses and support their families. A women’s police battalion named after Lt. Bharti Asha Sahay Chaudhary and freedom fighter Vijaya Mushaharin will soon be established, along with Pink Force units at public places to ensure safety. Free HPV vaccination and regular cancer screenings will continue for women’s health and prevention.

As Bihar steps into a new phase of industrial growth, it is the young and ambitious who will drive it forward. For youth, the focus is on jobs and entrepreneurship. The government plans to create 30 lakh jobs through new industrial parks in food processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and semiconductors. District-level Samrat Ashok Entrepreneurship Centres will be set up to train and mentor 10 lakh young entrepreneurs, providing co-working spaces and startup support.

In PM Modi’s words, “Jab itni light hai to Bihar mein laltain ki zarurat kya hai.” That light is the light of development, of confidence, of self-reliance, a light the NDA government has brought to Bihar. The Congress and RJD have, time and again, hurt Bihar’s progress and the self-respect of its people. Today, Bihar refuses to return to that era of darkness. The NDA government will once again receive the people’s unwavering trust and blessings, especially from the women of Bihar, who believe that their brothers, Narendra and Nitish, are the ones who can ensure a life that is better, peaceful, and safe.

Dr. Sanjay Mayukh is the Chief Whip of the BJP and the Deputy Whip of the NDA in the Bihar Legislative Council. He is also the National Media Co-Head and National Spokesperson of the BJP. He is overseeing the party’s media management in Bihar Assembly elections. He has been an MLC twice.