Crores of govt jobs, cash handouts: Tejashwi Yadav’s ‘unreal’ promises?

In an interview with Sreenivasan Jain, RJD leader and INDIA alliance’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav addresses questions on the alliance’s unity, the feasibility of RJD’s job promises, and the recurring charge of a return to ‘jungle raj’. He dismisses concerns that delays in seat-sharing and in declaring him the CM candidate will hurt the alliance, arguing instead that everything has unfolded according to their “strategy”.

Asked about the financial viability of providing nearly 3 crore government jobs in Bihar, a plan that might cost more than three times the state’s budget, Tejashwi argues that the NDA has failed to increase the state’s revenue generation capacity, and insists he has the “road map” and “vision” to deliver on this promise. 

On the issue of RJD giving tickets to criminal-politician strongmen or their relatives, and whether this validated the feats of a return to ‘jungle raj’, Tejashwi contends that none of these candidates have been convicted in court and maintains that, if voted to power, he will work towards a “crime-free Bihar”.

Watch.

If you liked this interview, power our Bihar election coverage.