The Politics of Greed: Bihar Elections and the Endless Cycle of Promises
The Politics of Greed: Bihar Elections and the Endless Cycle of Promises
Introduction
As Bihar approaches yet another election season, the political landscape begins to shimmer with promises — not of vision or reform, but of greed. Every political party, regardless of ideology or history, seems to have mastered the art of dangling temptations before voters. Free electricity, cash transfers, jobs, loans, laptops, and even household items — everything becomes part of an extravagant “gift list” designed to seduce rather than serve.
The tragedy lies not in the promises themselves, but in how they have come to define democracy — a democracy that appears to be on sale, traded for short-term gain and long-term stagnation.
The Evolution of Political Greed
In the early decades after independence, elections in Bihar were fought over ideals — justice, equality, and social upliftment. The language was of change, not charity. But over time, as caste equations, corruption, and competition intensified, greed became a tool of governance. Political parties discovered that the quickest way to a voter’s heart was not through performance, but persuasion by promise.
Today, manifestos read more like shopping catalogues than policy documents. Instead of structural reforms, we hear pledges of free cycles, smartphones, or cash doles. It’s not politics of progress — it’s politics of purchase.
Types of Greed Promised
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Monetary Greed:
Each election season witnesses waves of “cash-for-promise” schemes — direct money transfers, unemployment allowances, and loan waivers. Instead of empowering citizens, these promises cultivate dependency. -
Material Greed:
Laptops for students, free gas cylinders, subsidized electricity, and free ration cards have become political weapons. While they sound appealing, they rarely address the root cause — unemployment, illiteracy, and poor infrastructure. -
Caste and Community Greed:
Another subtle but dangerous form of greed is emotional and identity-based. Parties promise reservations, community funds, and representation, not to ensure equality, but to harvest votes. The result is division — the people are splintered along caste and creed lines, while real issues remain untouched. -
Employment Greed:
“Ten lakh jobs” — a phrase every Bihar voter has heard before every election. Yet, year after year, the youth migrate to Delhi, Punjab, and Maharashtra in search of work. The promise of employment has become a recurring mirage in Bihar’s political desert.
The Psychological Trap
The politics of greed is not only about what politicians offer — it’s also about what voters expect. Over years of manipulation, the electorate has been conditioned to equate governance with freebies. Political awareness has been replaced by transactional expectation.
The voter, instead of demanding education, healthcare, and reform, asks for immediate benefit — a relief that lasts only till the next election. This vicious cycle strengthens corrupt politics and weakens democracy.
The Cost of Greed
Every “free” scheme costs something — and that something is usually development. Bihar continues to struggle with poverty, crumbling schools, poor healthcare, and a lack of industries. Funds that should be invested in building infrastructure are redirected towards populist gimmicks.
Meanwhile, governance becomes secondary. Accountability disappears. Parties focus not on solving issues but on designing better “offers.”
What Bihar Truly Needs
Bihar doesn’t need another wave of promises. It needs a revolution of integrity.
It needs investment in rural industries, vocational training, women’s education, healthcare, and scientific agriculture.
It needs leaders who speak of empowerment, not entitlement.
True progress lies not in giving things for free, but in creating systems where citizens can earn them with dignity.
Conclusion: The Greed Must End
Elections are meant to be celebrations of democracy — not auctions of morality. As long as greed drives politics, development will remain a distant dream.
Bihar, once the cradle of learning and moral philosophy — the land of Buddha and Chanakya — deserves better than a politics of lollipops and lies.
It’s time for both leaders and voters to awaken from this illusion.
Because when promises are made out of greed, only disappointment is guaranteed.
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