Manju Devi from Bedaulia village in Bihar’s Vaishali district was talking to me about the state government’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana that aimed to give Rs 10,000 to one woman from every family to start a business, when the Mahagathbandhan candidate for her constituency butted in.

“This government will gobble up all your money,” he told the 56-year-old woman, who had not received the money promised by the ruling alliance of the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“No, brother,” she replied. “About three-fourths of the members in my Jeevika group [women’s self-help group] got it but I did not.”

“This money is a trap,” the Opposition candidate declared, without acknowledging her complaint. “It is a loan that you will have to repay. As soon as we come to power,

See Full Page