Daijiworld Media Network – Patna
Patna, Nov 16: Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has alleged that the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government diverted a massive World Bank loan to fund pre-election freebies, influencing the 2025 assembly polls.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, a day after the party failed to open its account in its debut election, Jan Suraaj national president Uday Singh claimed that the state government “splurged” nearly Rs 40,000 crore between June and the poll announcement. He alleged that around Rs 14,000 crore from a World Bank loan meant for development projects was instead used for cash doles.
Singh pointed specifically to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, under which Rs 10,000 was transferred to women’s bank accounts just ahead of polling. “Money was sent till a day before voting despite the model code of conduct. This easily swayed women who were struggling,” he said.
He further claimed that the NDA would have been “decimated” without the alleged vote-buying through public funds. “It was only after Jan Suraaj promised Rs 2,000 old-age pension that the government raised it from Rs 700 to Rs 1,100,” he added.
Singh also said fear of the “return of jungle raj” under the RJD compelled some Jan Suraaj supporters to vote for the NDA. “I’m not saying jungle raj exists, but the fear influenced voters,” the former BJP MP remarked.
Party leader Pavan Verma echoed the accusations, saying the funds were diverted from a Rs 21,000-crore World Bank package. “Public debt stands at Rs 4,06,000 crore and the treasury is empty. We have information — which may be incorrect, and I apologise if so — that Rs 14,000 crore was withdrawn just an hour before the model code and distributed among 1.25 crore women,” he told ANI. He raised ethical concerns, saying explanations would only come after elections.
The Bihar government and NDA leaders have not yet responded to the allegations.
In the recently concluded Bihar elections, the NDA clinched 202 of the 243 assembly seats. The BJP won 89, JDU 85, LJP (Ram Vilas) 19, HAM five and Rashtriya Lok Morcha four. The Mahagathbandhan managed only 35 seats, with the RJD winning 25, its worst performance after 2010. Congress secured six seats, CPI(ML)L two, and CPI(M) one. AIMIM won five seats, while VIP failed to register a win.
Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of over 66 per cent in the two-phase polls held on November 6 and 11.