Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday, 20 June 2026, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for what he described as an unprecedented chapter of development, connectivity, and peace in Northeast India over the past 12 years, citing a sweeping set of infrastructure and social sector milestones under the hashtag #12YearsOfRisingNorthEast.

Context

Choudhary's post, written in Hindi, opens with the phrase 'Ashtlakshmi ka utkarsh' — 'The rise of the Ashtlakshmi' — invoking the popular metaphor that casts the eight northeastern states as eight forms of the goddess Lakshmi, symbolising prosperity. The framing positions the region not as a peripheral security concern but as a driver of national growth, echoing the BJP government's long-standing 'Act East' narrative.

The post arrives as the ruling coalition approaches the completion of its third consecutive term, making such milestone-marking communications a recurring feature of the party's political messaging on governance outcomes.

Policy Backdrop

The figures cited by Choudhary span several flagship programmes. Investment in the Northeast is claimed to have grown from ₹1.4 lakh crore to over ₹7 lakh crore, while the budget of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has reportedly tripled. On physical connectivity, the post claims 1,840 km of new railway track commissioned and the national highway network expanded from 10,905 km to 16,207 km.

Air connectivity figures include 17 operational airports and 90 new air routes under the UDAN scheme, the regional connectivity programme launched in 2017 to link underserved areas. Landmark projects such as the Bogibeel Bridge — a rail-cum-road crossing over the Brahmaputra in Assam dedicated in 2018 — and the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which provides all-weather access to the India-China border area, are cited as emblematic achievements.

On social infrastructure, Choudhary highlights 2.43 crore Ayushman Bharat health cards distributed in the region, 96% mobile connectivity coverage, and internet access reaching 6,355 gram panchayats. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, rolled out in 2018, provides health insurance to economically weaker households.

Stakeholders and Impact

The post highlights two distinct beneficiary groups. On the security front, Choudhary claims 12 peace accords signed and more than 10,000 militants surrendered, a figure that, if accurate, would represent a significant drawdown of decades-old insurgencies across states including Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur. These accords reflect the government's shift from a purely security-centric approach to negotiated political settlements.

For the agrarian economy, the post states that organic farming now covers over 5 lakh hectares and has benefited more than 2.12 lakh farmers, positioning the Northeast — which has long been associated with organic cultivation — as a model for sustainable agriculture under the self-reliance framework.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to forthcoming central budget allocations for DoNER and updates on ongoing peace negotiations with groups in Manipur and Nagaland, where some talks remain inconclusive. Progress on new rail lines and airport expansions under the PM Gati Shakti national infrastructure master plan will serve as the next measurable test of the development-first approach that Choudhary's post champions. As the Northeast increasingly features in the government's strategic and economic calculus, political leaders across parties are expected to intensify their engagement with the region ahead of upcoming state elections.