Grand Alliance releases Bihar poll manifesto, pledges change

The Grand Alliance in Bihar on Saturday released its election manifesto or 'Sankalp Patra', and reiterated its commitment to give 10 lakh jobs to the state's youths and waive farm loans if it returned to power.

Entitled 'Our Pledge for Change', the manifesto was released by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav in the presence of Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala and other Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan partner leaders.

The manifesto promises to waive fees for various recruitment examinations in Bihar, apart from travel cost of candidates to the examination centres.

It also promises 'same pay for same work' for contract teachers, apart from opening Karpuri labour distress centres.

Taking a dig at the Nitish Kumar government, Tejashwi said Bihar had failed to get special status even when a 'double engine' government was in power in the state and the Centre. "Will US President Donald Trump come to get Bihar the special status?" he asked.

If we form the government, under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav, we will pass a Bill in the first Vidhan Sabha session to scrap the three anti-farm laws, said Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress.

The elections for 243 Assembly seats will be held in three phases -- for 71 seats on October 28, for 94 seats on November 3, and remaining 78 on November 7. The results will be announced on November 10.

with IANS inputs