📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary’s call to scrap free electricity sparks controversy
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 08:32 AM
👁 18
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary urged the state to discontinue free electricity subsidies, prompting sharp criticism from opposition parties and public groups.
Bihar's chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, publicly appealed for the state to abandon its policy of providing free electricity to households and certain commercial users. The suggestion was made during a press conference where he argued that the subsidy burden was unsustainable and diverted resources from essential development projects.
The proposal immediately ignited a political row. Leaders of the opposition, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, condemned the move as a betrayal of the poor and a breach of promises made during elections. Several civil society groups also staged protests, warning that the withdrawal could plunge low‑income families into hardship.
Government officials, however, defended the chief minister's stance, stating that a phased reduction of the subsidy is being studied to balance fiscal prudence with social welfare. The debate is expected to dominate the upcoming legislative session, with stakeholders awaiting a detailed policy paper from the finance department.
Analysts note that Bihar's power subsidy accounts for a significant share of the state's budget, and any change could have ripple effects on the state's credit rating and investment climate. The controversy underscores the broader challenge Indian states face in reconciling populist welfare schemes with fiscal sustainability.
The proposal immediately ignited a political row. Leaders of the opposition, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, condemned the move as a betrayal of the poor and a breach of promises made during elections. Several civil society groups also staged protests, warning that the withdrawal could plunge low‑income families into hardship.
Government officials, however, defended the chief minister's stance, stating that a phased reduction of the subsidy is being studied to balance fiscal prudence with social welfare. The debate is expected to dominate the upcoming legislative session, with stakeholders awaiting a detailed policy paper from the finance department.
Analysts note that Bihar's power subsidy accounts for a significant share of the state's budget, and any change could have ripple effects on the state's credit rating and investment climate. The controversy underscores the broader challenge Indian states face in reconciling populist welfare schemes with fiscal sustainability.