PATNA, Oct. 27 -- INDIA bloc chief ministerial candidate and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday raised poll pitch by promising that the allowances of Panchayati Raj representatives, including those elected from gram kutcheries, would be doubled, and former panchayat representatives would get pension, if his government came to power. "The panchayati raj representatives of three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) have long demanded hike in their allowances.We will double their allowances including those from gram kutheries (village courts). We will also give an insurance coverage of Rs.50 lakh to panchayati raj representatives, if voted to power," said Yadav while addressing a presser with ally Vikassheel Insaan Party chief, Mukesh Sahani. More importantly, Yadav also announced that caste groups like Lohar, Nai and Kumhar, all in extremely backward caste (EBC) category having specific professions, would get Rs.50 lakh as assistance money for enhancing their skills and profession. "This scheme would be exclusively meant for Nai (those in hair cutting profession), Lohar (iron smiths) and Kumhar( potters) to purchase equipments and also start self employment. They will get Rs.50 lakh in five years," Yadav said. The RJD leader's bid to hike the allowances of PRI representatives, who are around 247,000 lakh, is seen as a strategic move to woo the local self government elected public representatives who have a considerable clout in the 8,400 panchayats at the grassroots level. "We will implement the resolution passed for panchayati raj representatives during the RJD rule led by former CM Rabri Devi. The former panchayat representatives would also get pension, as applicable in other states," said Yadav. Besides, the promise of giving Rs.50 lakh to Lohar, Nai and Kumhars is aimed at wooing the specific EBC caste groups and make a dent in the EBC vote bank of the ruling JD(U) and BJP combine of the NDA, poll observes feel. "The idea of promising financial assistance to specific caste groups of EBCs is to woo them in the INDIA bloc as these caste groups are all silent voters and have a sizebale vote bank in almost all 243 assembly segments. The NDA has received poll dividends with their support and the RJD wants a slice of this vote bank this time," said R Tiwary, a poll observer in Patna. Yadav also promised that public distribution shop dealers would get higher margin money per quintal on foodgrains, as they have long been demanding the same. " The PDS dealers would also get honararium," Yadav said. Yadav also attacked the NDA, especially the BJP, over allegedly failing to set up industries and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Bihar and put the state in the industrial map of the country. " Union home minister Amit Shah has gone on record as how there is problem of land availability to set up big industries in Bihar. PM Modi-led NDA government has given industrial push to Gujarat while Bihar has only got hollow promises in last 20 years," Yadav said. The former deputy CM also claimed the state was already in mood for change, highlighting how he was getting overwhelming support of people at his rallies. "I am telling people that I only need 20 months to bring in new reforms in Bihar. The present dispensation of NDA for last 20 years has just become like stagnant water, which gives foul odour," said Yadav. Tejashwi also attacked Union minister and LJP(RV) president Chirag Paswan by accusing the latter of 'greed for power' and alleging that the junior Paswan had compromised his political stand for a share in the ruling alliance....