Maverick political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, whose party failed to make any mark in the just concluded Bihar assembly elections, blames it on the massive diversion of funds by the Narendra Modi government to Bihar ahead of the elections.
He told reporters on Sunday that World Bank funds worth Rs 14,000 crore, earmarked for development projects, were diverted to provide Rs 10,000 cash transfers to women before the elections, thereby influencing the recently concluded election.
He described the move as “a clear misuse of public money and an unethical attempt to sway the electoral process,” and demanded a thorough investigation.
The Nitish Kumar government had transferred Rs 10,000 to the accounts of 1.25 crore women voters under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in the run-up to the polls, a move that, according to several analysts, played a crucial role in the NDA’s sweeping return to power.
"The outcome of this election has effectively been bought. From June 21 until polling day, nearly Rs 40,000 crore was spent to secure this mandate. Using public money, they essentially purchased people’s votes. I have also learned that funds received from the World Bank were used for these cash transfers," Uday Singh, the National President of the Jan Suraaj Party, said.
The leader further claimed that Bihar’s economy is not capable of recovering such a huge amount of money, and that there is now barely any money left to spend on public welfare after the government comes to power.
Jan Suraaj spokesperson Pavan Verma reiterated the allegation, claiming that the state treasury has now been left depleted.
"We have information, which could be wrong, also that the amount of Rs 10,000 given to women in the state was given from Rs 21,000 crores, which came from the World Bank for some other project. An hour before the moral code of conduct for the polls, Rs 14,000 crores were taken out and distributed to 1.25 crore women in the state," he alleged.
He added, "If it is true, then the question arises as to how far this is ethical. It is possible that, legally, you cannot do anything. The government can divert funds and later give explanations. Explanation will come after the election.”