#### Freebies Flood: Rewarding Voters or Ruining Democracy?

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Published on : 31 Oct, 25 03:10

– Lalit Garg –

#### Freebies Flood: Rewarding Voters or Ruining Democracy?

Once again, Bihar’s politics has entered a vibrant election season. Every election rally, every neighborhood conversation, and every social media platform is flooded with promises and announcements of free handouts—what has now come to be known as “Revdi Culture.” As always, this election season is soaked in the sweetness of freebies. Whether it is the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) or the NDA, both camps are engaged in a fierce contest to outdo one another with offers that sound attractive but raise serious questions about their practicality and financial feasibility. Will these promises actually be fulfilled—or will they amount to betrayal of public trust? Every party is showering announcements to woo voters, but hardly anyone seems to be asking the most basic question: From where will the funds come? How will these lavish welfare schemes be financed? Will they not further burden an already fragile state economy?

This Bihar election is significant not merely because it may decide the future of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has shaped the state’s face for nearly two decades, but because both alliances are playing the same game—of populist politics. Recently, the Mahagathbandhan launched its “Tejashwi Sankalp” manifesto, incorporating earlier promises made by the Congress, RJD, and allied parties. The NDA’s list of promises is equally long: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s campaign began with the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana offering ₹10,000, 125 units of free electricity, the promise of one crore jobs, reservation for women in government jobs, and higher pensions. In response, the Mahagathbandhan went even further—pledging 200 units of free electricity, a government job for one member of every family, a monthly allowance of ₹2,500 for women, and much more. These sky-high promises may sound appealing but are misleading the public—a direct attempt to buy votes. According to NITI Aayog data, Bihar accounts for over 9% of India’s population but contributes only 2.8% to the country’s GDP (2021–22). The state’s per capita income is merely 30% of the national average, while unemployment remains high. In 2022–23, Bihar’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 39.6%.

The biggest challenge for Bihar is generating revenue. Its own tax revenue forms just 23% of total income, while central grants make up about 21%. The Jan Suraj movement estimates that implementing these “freebie” schemes would require ₹33,000 crore. If this figure is accurate, then after meeting routine administrative and developmental expenditures, only about ₹40,000 crore remains in the state budget. Can all these free promises realistically be fulfilled from that?

Both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan question each other’s promises but fail to clarify how they plan to finance them. Announcements like unemployment allowances, direct cash transfers to women, free laptops for youth, and farm loan waivers have trapped democracy in a web of populism rather than strengthening it. This phenomenon is not limited to Bihar—it reflects a new trend across Indian politics, where the road to power is increasingly being paved not through public wisdom but through the allure of freebies. Such a trend bodes ill for democracy, for it transforms the voter from a citizen into a consumer and diverts politics from principles toward profit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s term “Freebies Culture” seems to have found its perfect expression in Bihar’s ongoing politics. Free electricity, ration, travel, and assistance schemes have now become the norm of electoral manifestos. The true spirit of welfare has been lost—what remains is merely the arithmetic of votes. These tactics to psychologically influence voters amount to a kind of soft corruption, where votes are not openly bought but minds are subtly enslaved. This undermines the very soul of democracy, weakening values and principles and turning politics into a mere game of power. Democracy will thrive only when elections are ethical and policy-driven. Elections are not just contests of victory and defeat—they determine the moral fabric and direction of society. True politics is that which places public interest above immediate gain. If political parties continue to fill their manifestos with alluring promises devoid of economic or social vision, they are playing with the spirit of democracy itself.

Voters must rise above such temptations and evaluate who speaks for long-term reform, employment generation, education, healthcare, and good governance. Democracy is not a gift—it is a responsibility, one that citizens must understand and uphold. Votes should not be cast for free gifts but for stability, good governance, and genuine development. The conscience of the voter is the greatest strength of democracy. If citizens decide based on emotion or greed, both politics and governance will decay. Similarly, political parties must exercise restraint and realize that power is not an end in itself but a means of service. There is an urgent need to establish a regulatory mechanism for election promises. The Election Commission and NITI Aayog should frame rules ensuring that no party makes promises without financial backing. The media too should go beyond broadcasting announcements and take the lead in scrutinizing them. Voter awareness campaigns must be conducted to help citizens understand that voting is not a reaction to temptation but an act of responsibility.

Both alliances are attacking each other’s promises—BJP–JD(U) paints Tejashwi Yadav as an irresponsible dream-seller. But unless promises are backed by concrete policy, they remain mere rhetorical flourishes. The Mahagathbandhan should craft its manifesto not as emotional appeal but as a vision rooted in economic realism. That alone will inspire public confidence and blunt the attacks of opponents. Tejashwi Yadav’s charisma, communication skills, and youth connect make him a prominent figure in Bihar’s politics—but his campaign revolves excessively around extravagant promises. In politics, a promise gains power only when it carries credibility, realism, and the possibility of implementation.

The sanctity of democracy will survive only when politics is guided by principles, when power becomes a means of service, and when voters make decisions through their awakened conscience. Bihar—known for its political awareness—must rise above Revdi Culture and choose a politics grounded in development, employment, education, ethics, and good governance. Only then will democracy remain alive in its truest sense, and future generations will be able to say with pride—“We did not buy our future with our vote; we built it.”

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