Modi Sarkar Bought Votes with Money in Bihar Elections

NEW DELHI – Fresh controversy has erupted after opposition parties and civil society groups alleged that Modi sarkar bought votes with money in Bihar elections, using billions of rupees in direct transfers to women voters. The accusations have intensified following claims by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party that even World Bank funds were diverted to finance the scheme, leaving Bihar’s treasury “empty.”

Congress leaders had earlier accused the Election Commission of India of enabling the NDA’s tactics by allowing cash transfers during the election schedule. Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao argued that the announcement of such schemes amounted to bribing voters with government funds. Jan Suraaj has now added weight to these allegations, demanding a probe into what it calls “a blatant misuse of public resources.”

World Bank Funds Allegedly Diverted

Jan Suraaj leaders claimed that nearly ₹14,000 crore from a World Bank loan, originally intended for development projects, was redirected to fund cash transfers under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Party spokesperson Pavan Verma said that just an hour before the model code of conduct came into effect, the funds were withdrawn and distributed among 1.25 crore women across the state.

National president Uday Singh alleged that since June, the Nitish Kumar administration had spent ₹40,000 crore of public money to secure votes, insisting that Modi sarkar bought votes with money in Bihar elections on an unprecedented scale. He warned that the state’s debt burden, currently ₹4,06,000 crore with daily interest of ₹63 crore, has left the treasury depleted.

Cash Transfers and Electoral Impact

Political analysts have noted that the timing of the transfers was critical. Payments continued until the eve of polling, despite the model code of conduct, ensuring that women living on the margins received funds directly before casting their votes. Surveys indicated that the NDA secured nearly 48.5% of the female vote, more than 10 percentage points higher than the opposition bloc.

Analysts argued that this surge among women voters was decisive in the NDA’s sweeping victory, reinforcing claims that the Modi Sarkar bought votes with money in the Bihar elections. The BJP-led alliance ultimately secured 202 seats, with the BJP winning 89 and JD(U) 85, while allies like the LJP also performed strongly. In contrast, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan suffered a major setback, with the RJD reduced to 25 seats and Congress to just six.

Opposition Reaction and Concerns

Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, monitored the Bihar polls closely, warning that the Election Commission’s failure to act has damaged its credibility. Rao stressed that if such practices are normalized, India’s democratic process will lose its moral foundation.

Jan Suraaj echoed these concerns, arguing that promises on one side and cash transfers on the other could sway voters in upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and other states. The party insisted that Modi Sarkar bought votes with money in the Bihar elections, setting a dangerous precedent for Indian democracy.