Welfare schemes worked wonders

The Bihar election result has shown that voters cannot be swayed by unrealistic promises such as the one made by the Rashtriya Janata Dal to provide one government job to each family. The NDA won on the back of people-centric schemes. Its strong showing can also be attributed to some other factors: the consolidation of the ruling alliance, thanks to Chirag Paswan; and the BJP’s organisational muscle in Bihar, coupled with its focus on social welfare and infrastructure expansion. Also, women voters played a significant role in influencing the outcome.

Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar

Voters’ clear message

The resounding victory of the National Democratic Alliance in the Bihar Assembly elections deserves appreciation, not merely for the numbers it secured but for the clear message delivered by the people of the state. Crossing the 200-seat mark in a 243-member House is not just an electoral win, but an affirmation of citizens’ trust in stability, continuity and strong governance. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, now set for yet another term, has again demonstrated that consistent performance ultimately outweighs political noise. Voters have clearly rejected negativity and hollow promises, choosing instead a leadership they believe has delivered and can do it again.

Vishal Mayur, Tumakuru, Karnataka

Lessons for Opposition

The Bihar verdict has many lessons for Opposition parties and alliances, especially the Mahagathbandhan. Close coordination, cooperation, consultations and timely decisions are vital to woo voters. It is expected that the Mahagathbandhan and the INDIA bloc will do serious introspection to identify their mistakes and perform better in future elections.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi

Intellectual centralisation

Refer to ‘Academic autonomy under siege’; the steady assault on academic autonomy is not merely an administrative concern — it is a dangerous sign of India drifting toward intellectual centralisation. When governments begin to dictate how scientists think, institutions lose the very independence that made them globally respected. Past episodes — from sidelining expert committees to politically driven appointments — show that such interference rarely strengthens national capacity; it only breeds conformity and fear. A nation that dreams of becoming a knowledge powerhouse cannot operate with a command-and-control mindset. If India continues on this path, it risks replacing scientific excellence with bureaucratic obedience, a loss we cannot afford.

Manya Sawhney, Zirakpur

Relief on inflation front

Apropos of ‘Inflation falls’; the decline in inflation is mostly due to the rationalisation of GST rates and further deflation in food prices. The steepest fall was witnessed for pulses and vegetables. Such softening of food prices may continue due to a rise in wheat and sugar stocks, the prospect of a good kharif season and lower international prices. And even in the non-food category, inflation has remaining subdued in most segments, with the exception of some items. The rise in this category can be attributed to a surge in gold prices.

Mona Singh, by mail

Healthy growth of kids

Both articles in ‘Two Views’ (Op-ed page, November 14) provided an illuminating insight into the state of infants’ health in the country. Anaemia and stunting, though not as prevalent now as they used to be, remain lingering problems. Key issues pertain to parents, who spend more on their schoolgoing child than on the infant or the one who is on the way. They hardly ever go beyond a cup of milk, which is rich in nutrients but lacks essential iron. A banana daily or a boiled egg/potato can make a difference, but only if the mother is aware of their worth. A mentally deficient child will face problems at school and warrant more expensive special education. Our demographic status demands that every child enjoys healthy growth.

Mohan Singh, Amritsar