India, Nov. 9 -- Almost a year ago, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha led INDIA bloc won the Jharkhand elections by rolling out ex panded welfare programunes and direct cash transfers to poor households. The gamble paid off: the JMM-led alliance secured 56 of 81 seats, with Soren's party alone win ning 34 a decisive victory powered largely by women voters, who turned out at 70.46 percent compared to 65 percent of men.

Now, the opposition bloc is condemn ing the very same strategy this time deployed by Bihar's ruling BJP-backed National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The parallel is striking.

In Jharkhand, Chief Min ister Hemant Soren's gov ernment faced mounting anti-incumbency pressures heading into the November 2024 assembly elections. In the ru...