Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party has levelled serious accusations against the Nitish Kumar–led Bihar government, claiming that World Bank funds designated for development work were instead funnelled into a massive pre-election cash transfer meant to influence voters. According to the party, nearly Rs 14,000 crore from a World Bank-supported project was allegedly diverted to distribute Rs 10,000 each to 1.25 crore women shortly before the 2025 Assembly polls — a move they describe as an “unethical and deliberate attempt” to tilt the election outcome.
The state government had launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in the months leading up to voting, and analysts widely agree that these direct transfers played a significant role in the NDA’s decisive return to power. Jan Suraaj leaders, however, argue that the programme was not simply a welfare measure but a politically calculated expenditure that effectively “purchased” the election.
At a press conference, Jan Suraaj National President Uday Singh alleged that nearly Rs 40,000 crore was spent from June until polling day to secure the mandate, adding that the state’s fragile economy is in no position to recover such an enormous expenditure. He warned that the treasury has been left depleted, leaving little room for future public welfare spending.
Party spokesperson Pavan Verma expanded on the allegations, claiming that Rs 21,000 crore had originally been allocated by the World Bank for specific development projects. Of that, he said, Rs 14,000 crore was withdrawn just an hour before the Model Code of Conduct took effect and transferred to women voters.
Verma argued that if these claims are verified, the ethical implications are enormous. Although the government can legally reallocate funds with bureaucratic justifications, he pointed out that such manoeuvres dramatically shift electoral dynamics: while one party may make promises, another can offer direct cash, creating an uneven field. He warned this pattern could repeat in the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and other BJP-ruled states.
Verma also highlighted Bihar’s worsening finances, noting that the state’s public debt has climbed to Rs 4.06 lakh crore, with a daily interest burden of Rs 63 crore, underscoring his assertion that “the treasury is empty.”
These accusations come at a time when Jan Suraaj itself suffered a crushing defeat in its debut election, failing to win any of the 238 seats it contested. Meanwhile, the NDA registered a sweeping victory with 202 seats, driven by significant gains for the BJP and the JD(U). The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also performed strongly, reinforcing the ruling coalition’s dominance.
In sharp contrast, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan endured one of its worst defeats in years, with the RJD reduced to 25 seats and the Congress collapsing to just six — a result that further amplified the impact of the cash-transfer controversy now being raised by Jan Suraaj.
