Bihar – As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly elections, the political landscape is witnessing renewed debate over toddy exemption in Bihar, with Tejashwi Yadav and Chirag Paswan pushing hard to revive the traditional occupation of the Pasi community. The issue has ignited fresh confrontations between the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance and the opposition Mahagathbandhan.
RJD Revisits 2016 Prohibition Debate
The toddy exemption in Bihar has re-entered the political spotlight due to remarks by Tejashwi Yadav, who served as Deputy Chief Minister during the Mahagathbandhan regime in 2015-16. He recently stated that he had opposed the inclusion of toddy in the liquor ban implemented under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.
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Speaking at a gathering of the Pasi community, Tejashwi emphasized the community’s traditional engagement in toddy extraction. He criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not heeding calls to exclude toddy from the ban despite its socio-cultural and occupational significance.
Mahagathbandhan’s Fresh Promise
Promising policy reversal, Tejashwi announced that the Mahagathbandhan, if voted to power in the 2025 Assembly polls, would ensure toddy exemption in Bihar. He further pledged to grant toddy the status of an industry, reviving an initiative from the 1990s when Lalu Prasad Yadav waived taxes on toddy during his tenure as Chief Minister.
This renewed pitch has been interpreted by political observers as a calculated move to expand RJD’s support beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav base and attract Scheduled Caste communities, particularly the Pasis.
Community Livelihoods at Stake
The Pasi community, which accounts for roughly 1% of Bihar’s population and is the fifth largest Scheduled Caste group in the state, historically relied on toddy for sustenance. Before prohibition, an estimated 5 lakh Pasis earned their livelihood through toddy trade. The implementation of the ban adversely impacted this segment, stripping them of a stable income source.
The demand for toddy exemption in Bihar has, therefore, emerged as a livelihood issue as much as it is a cultural and political one.
RJD, Congress, and Chirag in Sync
Backing Tejashwi’s stance, Congress leaders noted the physical risks Pasis take by climbing tall palm and date trees to collect toddy. They argued that prohibition stripped the community of its rightful occupational identity and urged a policy reassessment.
Adding to the pressure, Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan asserted that toddy is a natural product and should not be clubbed with liquor. While being an NDA ally, Chirag emphasized that his party does not support the classification of toddy as an intoxicant under the prohibition law.
JD(U) and BJP Criticize ‘Political U-turn’
Responding to the growing chorus for toddy exemption in Bihar, JD(U) and BJP leaders have accused the RJD of hypocrisy. JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said the RJD’s constitution mandates abstinence from intoxicants, questioning the party’s shift in stance. He challenged the RJD to seek opinions from women voters, who were seen as the most supportive demographic during the original liquor ban.
The JD(U) also claimed that over two lakh Pasi families have already been given financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to shift to alternative professions such as goat rearing.
BJP spokesperson Manoj Kumar Sharma also hit out, reminding that the prohibition law was passed unanimously in 2016, with RJD’s full support. He termed the current demand for toddy exemption in Bihar a political gimmick aimed at securing the Pasi vote and warned it might backfire.
Nitish Government’s Policy Revisions
Over the years, Bihar’s prohibition policy has undergone several amendments due to legal, social, and administrative challenges. In May 2023, the penalty for release of impounded vehicles was reduced from 50% to 10% of the vehicle’s insurance value.
In 2022, significant changes included reducing the punishment for first-time drinkers to fines of Rs 2,000–Rs 5,000. This led to a decrease in the prison population. Previously, drinkers faced up to 10 years in jail; that was cut to 3 years. Also, provisions for summary trials and compensation in hooch deaths were introduced.
Despite this, about 7 lakh cases under the prohibition law remain pending. Critics argue that these measures, while helpful, do not address the root issue: the effectiveness of total prohibition.
Rising Toll of Prohibition Failures
Since 2016, Bihar has recorded over 350 hooch-related deaths and 9.36 lakh prohibition-related cases, leading to 14.32 lakh arrests as of March 2025. Most of the arrested are from underprivileged and marginalized groups. Tejashwi Yadav has repeatedly cited these statistics to criticize the policy, positioning the toddy exemption in Bihar as a first step toward broader reform.
In December 2021, the then Chief Justice of India flagged the liquor ban as an example of poor legal foresight, noting the clogging of High Courts with bail applications that took up to a year to resolve.
Prashant Kishor’s Open Rebuttal
Adding a new dimension to the debate, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has promised a complete rollback of prohibition if his party comes to power. He said the excise revenue from alcohol could fund educational improvements across Bihar. The state’s current annual revenue stands at approximately Rs 56,000 crore.
His remarks indicate a growing political appetite for re-evaluating prohibition, with toddy exemption in Bihar possibly being just the beginning.
2025 Polls Could Be a Referendum on Prohibition
As Bihar Election season approaches, the push for toddy exemption in Bihar is gaining traction. With Tejashwi, Chirag, and Kishor on one side and Nitish Kumar’s government defending the status quo on the other, the debate is no longer just about toddy but about Bihar’s economic, legal, and social direction.
Women’s groups remain a pivotal force in this conversation. Their overwhelming support was crucial in the initial acceptance of prohibition. Any shift in public opinion within this demographic could influence how prohibition — and by extension toddy exemption in Bihar — is treated in the political arena.
Whether seen as a cultural restoration or a political strategy, the call for toddy exemption in Bihar has now become a significant flashpoint in Bihar’s high-stakes political narrative.
