Prasant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Accuses Bihar Govt : On Sunday, November 16, 2025, Jan Suraaj Party—founded by political strategist Prashant Kishor—publicly accused the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government (part of the NDA coalition with JD(U) and BJP) of misusing public funds to influence the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections. The party, which contested all 243 seats but failed to win any, framed this as a desperate post-poll narrative to explain their humiliating defeat.
Prasant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Accuses Bihar Govt Key Details of the Claim
- Alleged Diversion: Jan Suraaj spokesperson Pavan Varma claimed that ₹14,000 crore from a ₹21,000 crore World Bank loan—originally earmarked for development projects like infrastructure and rural electrification—was redirected to fund cash handouts.
- The Handout Scheme: The funds were supposedly used for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, a state initiative launched in September 2025 by the Bihar government. Under this, ₹10,000 was transferred directly to the bank accounts of approximately 1.25 crore women (one per eligible family) to promote self-employment and economic empowerment. Transfers reportedly continued until just an hour before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) kicked in ahead of the polls, allegedly swaying women voters who form a significant bloc in Bihar (voter turnout was over 66% in the two-phase elections on November 6 and 11).
- Broader Accusations: Party leaders, including national president Uday Singh, alleged a larger pattern of “vote-buying” with ₹40,000 crore splurged on freebies since June 2025. They highlighted Bihar’s mounting public debt (₹4.06 lakh crore, with ₹63 crore in daily interest payments) and an “empty treasury” as evidence of fiscal recklessness. Varma admitted the ₹14,000 crore figure might be “wrong” but called the move unethical and a violation of MCC norms.
- Demand: Jan Suraaj has called for a “thorough, independent investigation” by central agencies like the CBI or a special parliamentary committee to probe the diversion and its electoral impact.
Bihar Elections Background
The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections saw the ruling NDA (BJP-JD(U)-allies) secure a landslide victory, winning around 170+ seats and ensuring Nitish Kumar’s continued tenure as Chief Minister. The opposition RJD-led Mahagathbandhan managed about 70 seats, while Jan Suraaj’s zero-seat debut was a major setback despite Kishor’s high-profile campaign focusing on unemployment, education, and anti-corruption. The women’s cash transfer was widely credited by NDA leaders for boosting their rural outreach, especially among lower-income households.
Verification and Responses
- Evidence So Far: No concrete proof (e.g., documents or audits) has been presented by Jan Suraaj to substantiate the World Bank link. Searches for funding details on the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana point to state budgets and central support (e.g., a ₹7,500 crore tranche announced by PM Modi), but nothing ties it directly to World Bank loans. World Bank projects in Bihar do exist (e.g., for urban development and climate resilience), but no recent ₹21,000 crore loan matching this description appears in public records—searches mostly loop back to the allegation itself.
- Government Stance: As of now (early afternoon IST), there’s no formal response from the Bihar government or NDA leaders. However, an ANI report quotes an unnamed official saying, “If you have any facts, present them and the government will respond accordingly,” dismissing it as baseless election sour grapes.
- World Bank: No statement from the World Bank yet; such diversions, if proven, could trigger audits or loan reviews under their safeguard policies.