Nitish Kumar Promises Free Electricity in Bihar Ahead of 2025 Assembly Polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that domestic electricity consumers in the state will not have to pay power bills starting this month. The move, rolled out just months ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, is being seen as a significant pre-poll push to gain public support, especially from rural and lower-income households.

What the Announcement Means
Nitish Kumar declared that electricity bills for domestic use will be fully subsidised by the state government. This means households using power for non-commercial purposes won’t pay anything from their pockets, irrespective of the units consumed. The scheme has already come into effect from July and is expected to benefit nearly 1.5 crore households.

Consumers will still receive monthly bills for reference, but payment will be handled directly by the state through the existing “Har Ghar Bijli” framework.

Political Timing and Reactions
The timing of the move is politically strategic, coming ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for 2025. Nitish Kumar, who recently returned to the NDA fold, is clearly setting the tone for an aggressive welfare-driven campaign.

Opposition parties have criticised the decision, calling it a last-minute attempt to cover up years of poor power infrastructure in rural Bihar. Meanwhile, supporters argue it’s a continuation of Nitish Kumar’s long-term focus on rural electrification and social equity.

Impact on Tier 2 and Rural Bihar
In Tier 2 cities like Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Muzaffarpur, the response has been mixed. While many residents welcomed the relief from high power bills, questions remain about the sustainability of such a subsidy.

Local electricians and small-scale businesses in these cities expressed cautious optimism, noting that while free electricity could boost household savings, long-term supply consistency is still a concern in smaller towns and villages.

What This Could Mean Financially
The Bihar government is expected to shoulder an additional burden of over ₹13,000 crore annually to implement this policy. Experts say such welfare schemes could strain state finances unless backed by strong revenue growth or central assistance.

However, the government claims it can manage the cost by cutting down on leakages and improving efficiency in power distribution.

Conclusion
The promise of free electricity is likely to be a central theme in Nitish Kumar’s 2025 election campaign. Whether it turns out to be a game-changer or just another poll-season move will depend on how effectively the state handles implementation and whether the benefits genuinely reach every household. For now, it’s a big promise with even bigger expectations.