Nitish announces 50% quota for backward classes in govt contracts

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced 50% quota for OBC, EBC and SC/STs in all government contracts up to Rs 15 lakh and by removing the mandatory 75% attendance cap for students to avail benefits of the state's uniform and bicycle schemes.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that Nitish Kumar had emulated his idea adding that he was forced to do so because of his political compulsions.

Manjhi had proposed quota for OBCs in contracts up to Rs 50 lakh during his tenure as the chief minister. However, the Nitish Cabinet has capped it at Rs 15 lakh.

The assembly polls in Bihar would be held most likely in September or October this year.

The BJP, which along with its allies had won 31 of the 40 seats in Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is set for a battle against a united Janata Parivar comprising of the JD (U) and RJD.