PATNA, July 20 -- As the monsoon session of the Bihar assembly convenes from July 21 -- the last session of the state's 17th Vidhan Sabha before the elections -- chief minister Nitish Kumar is unleashing generosity like never before. Ever since he became CM in 2005, he hasn't announced so many sops before any assembly or Lok Sabha polls. The rain of sops echo a streak of populism that several leaders have shown while going to polls in various India states, and it also positions Nitish in direct competition with the Opposition that has been promising schemes like Mai Behen Yojna and others to entice Bihar voters. Nitish's largesse is also significant as he has been averse to such demands earlier citing huge financial implications to the state, like the 125 units of free electricity, nearly three times increase in old-age pension to benefit around 1.10-crore people, large-scale recruitment and a lot more touching all segments. But as his cabinet has given its go-ahead to these schemes, they will have to pass the House test as bills seeking their implementation will be tabled in the assembly. Interestingly, for these bills' passage, the assembly will have only five days of business. "What is evident today is what Nitish Kumar tirelessly worked for nearly two decades. He works for the people and he is giving them back now in more ways than one, as the state has reached the stage where it can afford," said parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary . After the monsoon session, there would be total election mood in the state in anticipation of the Election Commission's announcement of polling dates and expectation of tickets for the sitting legislators and new aspirants. Nitish's announcements having big financial implications are being seen as an attempt to outmanoeuvre the Opposition INDIA bloc, which has also promised a number of lucrative schemes, like monthly cash transfer of Rs.2,500 to women under the proposed Mai Behan Maan scheme, subsidised gas cylinders, free power up to 200 units, implementation of 100% domicile, increase in old-age, disability and widow pension, etc. Social analyst NK Choudhary said that Nitish Kumar's announcements ahead of election were understandable, as after nearly two decades as CM he would be aware of the rising expectations of the people and compulsions of competitive populism to retain power for the NDA. "The welfare schemes announced during elections are a bye-product of competitive populism, for which all the political parties are responsible, as the ultimate objective is to gain power. It is not a one-time phenomenon. It has been happening for decades," he added. Former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies DM Diwakar said that the new-found urgency in the Nitish Kumar's announcements was not without a reason. "He has virtually usurped the agenda of the Opposition, which also promised most things that Nitish Kumar has delivered. The Opposition will claim that it is happening under its pressure, but the reality is that it will benefit the people at large -- whatever may be the reason -- and that is what matters to alter the course of election," he added. Rajya Sabha MP and RJD's chief spokesman Manoj Jha said that Tejashwi Yadav as leader of the Grand Alliance in 2020 changed the very way elections were fought in Bihar in 2020 itself by bringing everyday issues of ordinary Bihari like jobs, better health and educational infrastructure on top of the agenda....