Politics in Bihar: After land survey on electricity smart meter, Nitish Kumar’s government is now under siege on electricity smart meter. No one is able to understand why the Nitish government is doing such things before the elections, which is increasing the problems of the common man. Earlier common people agitated against electricity meters but now the main opposition party RJD has made it a big issue. RJD has announced a protest against smart meters in the entire state from October 1.
RJD leaders are saying that they will remove the smart meter and throw it away, while on the other hand, Nitish Kumar has shown his stubbornness and said that the smart meter will remain installed. In the review meeting of the Energy Department, he instructed the officials to run a campaign to install as many smart meters as possible. Till now, around 1.5 crore smart meters have been installed in the entire country, out of which 50 lakh meters have been installed in Bihar alone.
People in Bihar are worried because smart meters are prepaid. This means that people have to recharge it in advance and as soon as their money runs out, the electricity gets cut. Bihar government is installing prepaid meters in the homes of common people who do not have regular sources of income, but in Patna, post paid meters are being installed in the apartments of government officials and leaders. However, the smart meter controversy before the elections is reminiscent of Arvind Kejriwal’s movement of 2013. In March 2013, Kejriwal had agitated against rising electricity bills and disconnections.
There were many cases against him. Later he also sat on a fast and went on hunger strike for 15 days. In the elections held six months later, his party got 28 seats and he became the Chief Minister. Since then, the Congress has not been able to open its account till date due to its wipeout. Like Kejriwal, Tejashwi and Prashant Kishor’s party in Bihar is preparing for the movement.