Manifestoes of SP & RJD: Comparing UP and Bihar Politics

Elections in India have been conducted for more than 100 years. The first election was conducted in 1909-1910. Since then, by and large, elections have been a continuing phenomenon. In this phenomenon, the manifesto plays a pivotal role. It is the manifesto which on the one hand distinguishes parties from each other. On the other hand, the voters provide the mandate to the party which wins an election.¹

In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have unveiled their respective manifestos, each articulating distinct visions for governance and development. While the SP manifesto underscores principles of social justice, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth on a national scale, the RJD manifesto tailors its promises to address the specific needs and aspirations of the state of Bihar. This comparison aims to dissect and analyze the key announcements of both parties across various domains, offering insights into their priorities and agendas for the upcoming elections.²

Socio-Economic Welfare:

SP: Focuses on poverty eradication by 2029, ensuring justice and participation for all segments of society through measures like conducting a caste census and providing legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers. Emphasizes the end of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, regular recruitment in the armed forces, and implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all. Furthermore, it also advocates for a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against women, with measures like a nationwide helpline and 33% reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies. SP Promises free education, increased healthcare budget, and bridging the digital divide.

RJD: Pledges to discontinue the Agniveer Scheme and prioritizes the construction of five new airports in Bihar for improved connectivity. RJD also promised government jobs to one crore youth nationwide, starting from August 15. Furthermore, they commit to providing gas cylinders at Rs 500 and implementing the Old Pension Scheme. Additionally, it also offers Rs 1 lakh annually to sisters from poor households on Raksha Bandhan.

Infrastructure Development:

SP: Proposes the construction of smart village clusters and emphasizes infrastructure development for inclusive growth.

RJD: Focuses on building five new airports in Bihar for better connectivity and promises special status to Bihar.

Regional Focus:

SP: Presents a broader national agenda with a focus on social justice and poverty eradication.

RJD: Tailors promises to the specific needs and demands of Bihar, with a notable emphasis on regional development and job creation.

Electoral Strategy:

SP: Contesting 62 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the INDIA bloc. It is also contesting 1 seat in Madhya Pradesh.

RJD: Contesting 23 seats out of 40 in Bihar, where polling is to be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.^3,4It is also contesting 1 seat in Jharkhand.

Conclusion:

The political scenes in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar differ a lot despite their close history. In UP, one party usually controls the government, like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does now. The Samajwadi Party’s promises in their manifesto, focusing on issues like fairness and helping the poor, fit well with UP’s history of politics based on people’s social groups.

On the other hand, Bihar’s politics are more about different groups joining together to govern. This is seen in the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s plans in their manifesto.⁵ They talk about things that matter specifically to Bihar, like building new airports and giving special help to the state. These promises show how Bihar’s politics are about different social groups working together, and how parties like the RJD aim to win support from specific groups of people.

Overall, both states deal with politics based on social groups, but Bihar’s politics are more about different groups working together, while UP’s tend to be more focused on one party being in charge. The SP and RJD manifestos give us a peek into how these parties try to shape and influence the politics of their states.

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