What role did central schemes play in getting NDA to power in Bihar?

A look into the performance key central programmes in the state, and the impact on gender-based voter turnout which could have had a bearing on poll outcome

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scored a narrow victory over the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Grand Alliance in the recent Bihar elections, even after NDA ally Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), gave its weakest performance in 20 years. Though the RJD won the popular vote and the highest number of seats in the Assembly, its alliance could not stop the incumbents from reaching the majority mark.
 
JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar came to power in 2005 with the narrative of “development”, terming the rule of the then incumbent RJD rule as “Jungle Raj”. Since then, state elections