A sharpening political debate over Bihar's prohibition policy has drawn in another prominent voice, with independent Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, widely known as Pappu Yadav, backing Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi's call to rethink the state's liquor ban. The remarks, made in Patna on 14 August after Yadav returned from Delhi, come amid a broader push from several quarters to reassess the prohibition framework that has defined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's governance for years.

What Pappu Yadav Said

Speaking to reporters, Yadav argued that the government must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the prohibition regime rather than persist with its current form. He proposed that restrictions could remain especially stringent near schools and temples, while separate rules could potentially be considered for five-star and seven-star hotels.

Yadav also raised the economic dimension of the debate, alleging that Bihar is forfeiting substantial revenue under the existing ban, while illegal liquor trade is reportedly channelling money to politicians, officials, and criminal networks. He called for an honest accounting of the policy's gains and losses.

The Manjhi Factor and the Gujarat Model

The debate was further energised by Manjhi, a government ally, who has advocated strengthening prohibition along the lines of the Gujarat model — a reference to the long-standing dry-state framework in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Manjhi's position is notable because, as a ruling coalition partner, his remarks carry weight within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold in Bihar.

Notably, a recent survey reportedly recommended reconsidering or ending prohibition in Bihar — a finding that triggered a legal notice from the Janata Dal (United) to the agency that conducted it. Yadav, commenting on this, said Nitish Kumar's vision on prohibition deserves respect, but added that laws must be periodically reviewed for effectiveness and unintended consequences.

JD-U's Firm Defence of the Policy

The ruling Janata Dal (United) has continued to defend Bihar's prohibition policy, which has been a centrepiece of Kumar's political identity since the ban was introduced in 2016. The party's decision to serve a legal notice to the survey agency signals its intent to push back against any narrative that could undermine the policy's standing ahead of future electoral cycles.

This is not the first time the prohibition law has faced internal scrutiny — critics have long pointed to the persistence of illicit liquor trade and a series of hooch tragedies as evidence that enforcement remains deeply flawed.

What the Debate Signals

The convergence of voices — Manjhi advocating a Gujarat-style strengthening, Yadav calling for a revised and more nuanced framework, and JD-U firmly defending the status quo — reflects a widening fault line within Bihar's political landscape over a policy that touches public health, state revenue, law enforcement, and electoral optics simultaneously.

With Bihar's political calendar growing more consequential, how the ruling alliance manages this internal pressure will be closely watched in the months ahead.