Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party and a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, has leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that 1.5 crore votes were bought using government money in Bihar. Kishor asserted that ₹10,000 was distributed per person from the government treasury two days before the election in the state.
Allegations of Vote Buying and ECI Complicity
Speaking to news agency PTI, Kishor stated that a significant portion of society has been dissatisfied with the ECI’s functioning and election processes over the past 8 to 10 years. He specifically targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, but emphasized that the issue extends to the entire electoral process. Kishor alleged that the ECI and its officials are assisting the ruling party in various procedures, including voter list preparation, changes in Form 6 and 7, deletion of names through Special Intensive Revision (SIR), setting election dates, implementing the model code of conduct, alleged irregularities in counting, and appointing observers.
The Jan Suraaj Party further claimed that the Nitish Kumar government diverted ₹14,000 crore of World Bank funds to provide cash transfers of ₹10,000 to women before the elections. The party also alleged that since June, the administration has spent ₹40,000 crore of public money to “buy” votes.
Bihar’s Financial Situation
These allegations come against the backdrop of Bihar’s significant public debt. Reports from November 2025 indicated that the state’s public debt stood at ₹4,06,000 crore, with an daily interest burden of ₹63 crore. As of August 2026, Bihar’s total outstanding liabilities were reported to be ₹4,03,868 crore, approximately 34% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the financial year 2026-27, Bihar’s fiscal deficit target was set at ₹39,111.80 crore, representing 2.99% of the state’s GSDP. The projected GSDP for the same period is ₹13.1 lakh crore, with an anticipated growth of 15%.
Background and Future Plans
Prashant Kishor launched the Jan Suraaj Party on October 2, 2024, aiming to offer a new political alternative in Bihar. Although the party contested the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election without winning any seats, Kishor secured the party’s first seat by winning the Bankipur by-election in 2026. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had secured a decisive victory in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. The ECI’s SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar was upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2026.
The Jan Suraaj Party is now looking to expand its reach beyond Bihar and is planning to establish a unit in Delhi to contest upcoming polls there.
Unanswered Questions
The specific source of the government money allegedly used for vote-buying in Bihar remains unconfirmed. Furthermore, the exact amount of government funds diverted from World Bank loans for cash transfers is alleged but not officially substantiated. A detailed clarification of the Bihar government’s financial status and the precise impact of its debt on welfare schemes is also needed. While references to the 2025 and 2026 elections are present, the specific dates of the elections in Bihar that Prashant Kishor is referring to are not explicitly stated in the provided text.
