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Toddy will be excluded from liquor ban if INDIA Bloc is elected in Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav

IANS April 27, 2025 318 views

Tejashwi Yadav has made a bold political promise to modify Bihar's strict liquor prohibition law. His strategy focuses on winning support from the Pasi community by proposing to exempt toddy from the current ban. This move challenges Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's longstanding prohibition policy and aims to provide economic relief to traditional toddy businesses. The announcement reflects a calculated political maneuver to expand the RJD's electoral support base in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

"If the INDIA Bloc government is formed, we will definitely take toddy out of the liquor ban law" - Tejashwi Yadav"
Toddy will be excluded from liquor ban if INDIA Bloc is elected in Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav
Patna, April 27: Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP), Tejashwi Yadav, on Sunday, reiterated his commitment that toddy will be excluded from the liquor prohibition law if the INDIA Bloc is elected in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Key Points

1

Toddy to get industry status in Bihar

2

INDIA Bloc targets Pasi community support

3

Liquor ban challenged by opposition

4

Traditional occupation preservation strategy

"If the INDIA Bloc government is formed in Bihar, toddy will be taken out of the liquor ban law and the cases registered against toddy businessmen will be withdrawn," said Tejashwi Yadav while addressing the toddy businessmen 'Mahajutan' program at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna, aiming to mobilise support from the Pasi community, which traditionally supports the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

He also announced that toddy would be given industry status in Bihar, which, he emphasised, would boost the economic condition of people associated with the business.

Tejashwi Yadav pointed out that during the previous Grand Alliance government, he and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had advocated removing toddy from the ambit of the liquor prohibition law. However, due to the 'stubbornness' of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the decision could not be implemented.

"This time, if the INDIA Bloc government is formed, we will definitely take toddy out of the liquor ban law," Tejashwi assured the gathering.

On March 6 this year, Tejashwi had also raised the demand to exempt toddy from the liquor ban, arguing that it is an important traditional occupation for certain communities in Bihar.

This move is seen as an effort by the RJD to win the trust of the Pasi community, an important segment among the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) in Bihar politics.

Liquor has been banned in Bihar since April 2016, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always defended prohibition, claiming it benefits women and families.

Opposition parties argue the ban has created a booming black market and has become a tool for police to harass poor people in the state.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some common sense! Toddy is part of our culture and tradition. The ban was hurting poor farmers and small businesses. Hope this promise gets fulfilled 🙏
P
Priya M.
While I understand the cultural significance, I'm concerned about potential health impacts. The government should implement proper quality control if toddy is legalized again.
S
Sanjay T.
My grandfather used to run a toddy shop before the ban. This would be such a relief for our family! 🎉 Industry status could really help many struggling families get back on their feet.
A
Anjali R.
The liquor ban has been a failure anyway. At least this partial rollback makes sense economically. But I hope they don't stop here - the whole prohibition policy needs review.
V
Vikram S.
Seems like political opportunism to me. Where was this concern for traditional occupations when they were in power before? Now suddenly before elections they remember the Pasi community.
M
Meena P.
As a woman, I supported prohibition initially. But seeing how it created more problems than it solved, I agree toddy should be treated differently. It's not the same as hard liquor.

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Tags:
Bihar Elections Tejashwi Yadav INDIA Bloc Liquor Prohibition Toddy Business Pasi Community RJD
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