Bihar is hotting up for Elections 2025, but unfortunately whosoever wins is immaterial as one thing is for sure that there would be only loser and that in bold letters is BIHAR. In the last 35 years of Jungle Raj and Sushasan as it is euphemistically called, people could barely experience ease of life and comfort of democratic existence. Out of the sham and dungeon that they created and perpetuated, the politicians and even bureaucrats created larger than life images and roles for themselves and commensurate comfort and lifestyle; legal or otherwise notwithstanding. Bihar and its electorate painfully watched all this unfold; a personal and societal misery.
Can good motorable roads in isolation with some sprinkling of other infrastructure improve the citizens' precarious existence? In 1990, Bihar's HDI stood at about 0.577, with a health index near 0.702, education index at 0.497, and income index around 0.551. By 2025, Bihar's HDI improved to approximately 0.609 but remained the lowest among Indian states, with continued challenges in health, education, and income indicators despite incremental progress.
The modest increase in HDI over 35 years signifies some development but highlights persistent structural issues such as poor healthcare, low educational attainment, and limited economic growth. Bihar’s bottom ranking reflects deep-rooted socio-economic disparities, underscoring the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to accelerate inclusive growth and human development.The state of crime in Bihar is pretty well known across the country for decades now. Nitish’s first term showed some respite.
The nature of candidates fielded currently belies any hope of change. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, about 32% of the candidates across major parties face criminal charges, with serious offenses like murder and crimes against women reported for 27%. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads with 76% of its candidates having criminal cases, followed by BJP and Congress at 65% each, and JD(U) at 39%. They bring muscle power, local influence, and financial clout, which is prioritizing winnability over clean governance. It has perpetuated a deep nexus of crime and politics in Bihar. Three cheers to the ultimate hypocrisy and duplicity of India’s political leadership.
DO WE EXPECT THIS LOT TO THROW UP BIHAR’S VISIONARY DEVELOPMENTAL POLITICAL EXECUTIVES?