Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday announced that his government’s move to provide 125 units of free electricity to domestic consumers was taken in line with the advice of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Addressing a public rally in Motihari, the JD(U) leader shared the stage with the Prime Minister and highlighted that the announcement was made with full respect to his guidance.
“We respect him a lot and have been working in a manner that aligns with his advice,” Mr. Kumar told the crowd, reinforcing the BJP-JD(U) alliance ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
PM Modi Launches Projects Worth Over Rs. 7,000 Crore
The rally marked the launch of development projects worth more than Rs. 7,000 crore by the Prime Minister, aimed at infrastructure and public welfare in Bihar. This was Mr. Modi’s sixth visit to the state in 2025, and according to Bihar BJP president Mr. Dilip Jaiswal, his 53rd visit since 2014.
Mr. Kumar praised the PM’s consistent attention towards Bihar, saying, “It is a big thing. I would like to thank him. Let us have a round of applause for him.” He urged the audience to stand up and express gratitude.
Cabinet Clearance Scheduled After PM’s Departure
Mr. Kumar informed the gathering that the cabinet meeting would take place later the same day, once the Prime Minister departs, to officially clear the subsidy scheme. “The people will now have to pay nothing for electricity,” he added, describing it as a transformative move for the state’s households.
Deputy CM Defends Subsidy Amid Freebie Debate
Responding to criticism that the move contradicts NDA’s position on freebies, Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Samrat Choudhary, who also holds the finance portfolio, clarified: “It is not a free dole. It is a 100 per cent subsidy that the government will be providing.” The clarification comes in the backdrop of the INDIA bloc’s promise of 200 units of free electricity, if elected.
Praise for Union Budget and Sporting Events
Mr. Kumar also thanked Mr. Modi for the Bihar-centric allocations in the Union Budget and the opportunity to host the Khelo India tournament earlier this year. Without naming the RJD-Congress alliance, he took a dig at past administrations, stating, “Governance began in earnest in Bihar only after we took over. Those in power earlier failed to even spend the allocated funds properly. There was no development, no infrastructure.”
Mr. Kumar’s public endorsement of the Prime Minister, coupled with targeted governance announcements, is widely seen as part of the NDA’s broader electoral strategy ahead of the state elections.
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