Modi Targets Pivotal Bihar Vote with $8bn Economic Push

Economic insecurity dominates as Bihar heads to the polls

India's poorest state, Bihar, with roughly 130 million residents, goes to the polls in a high-stakes election where economic concerns overshadow other issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are pitching a major investment agenda and targeted cash transfers as the centerpiece of their campaign to win sole control of the state government.

Why Bihar matters

Bihar is the country's third most populous state and remains the only major Hindi-heartland state where the BJP has never governed alone. Political strategists say a BJP victory here could boost the party's momentum heading into national contests next year, while a loss would strengthen the opposition in other key states.

Voters' day-to-day struggles

For many voters, daily survival is the immediate priority. Housewife Rajkumari Devi of Muzaffarpur district described the uncertainty of relying on irregular daily wages that range from about 400 to 500 rupees (roughly $5) on days when work is available.

"There is no stability. There have been times when he has not had work for days — so we stretch the little money we have. There is unemployment everywhere," said the 28-year-old, standing outside the family's single-room home.

Promises and policy pledges

In September, Modi announced an $8 billion package of investments for Bihar, including rail and road upgrades, agricultural programs and an airport terminal. He also unveiled an $844 million initiative aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs, promising cash transfers of 10,000 rupees each to 7.5 million women.

Despite being at the bottom on many development indicators — with a GDP per capita reported by the government's NITI Aayog at 52,379 rupees — Bihar has made measurable gains: the share of people in "multidimensional poverty" fell from just over half in 2016 to about one-third in 2021, according to the latest available data.

Political landscape

The BJP is contesting as part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alongside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United). Its main rival is an opposition coalition led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has pledged "time to build new Bihar," including a promise of one government job per family.

Former BJP poll strategist Prashant Kishor has launched a new party, Jan Suraaj ("People's Good Governance"), which adds another variable to the race as smaller parties and new entrants seek to reshape voter calculations.

What voters say matters

Political analyst Pushpendra (who uses one name) said the outcome will hinge on which party voters trust to deliver jobs and improve living standards — reflecting how being "Bihari" has often been associated with limited local employment opportunities. Many residents, including former migrant worker Vikash Kumar, who left Bihar ten years ago seeking work, say building local industry and stable jobs would transform daily life.

Election schedule: Voting will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results due on November 14.

Reporting notes: Figures and quotes are drawn from local reporting and government data cited in the original dispatch.