Patna/New Delhi| 17th November 2025:
In a startling allegation ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) has accused the incumbent government of diverting ₹14,000 crore of World Bank-backed funds to influence electoral outcomes. The claim, made Sunday by JSP spokesperson Pavan Varma, centers on the assertion that money originally earmarked for a development project was instead channelled to women voters just before the model code of conduct came into effect.
According to Varma, the funds—drawn from a World Bank-supported scheme—were transferred hours before the poll panel’s code kicked in, with roughly 1.25 crore women receiving ₹10,000 each under the state’s women-employment initiative. Varma said: “Just an hour before the model code of conduct was implemented, ₹14,000 crore were withdrawn and ₹10,000 each was allocated to 1.25 crore women… If this is wrong, I wish to apologise – but if it is true then the question arises how far it is ethical.”
He further noted that Bihar’s public debt currently stands at about ₹4,06,000 crore, and the interest burden alone runs to approximately ₹63 crore a day. Varma claimed lingering rumours in the state suggest the remaining funds would not be released unless the ruling alliance was returned to power.
In response, Union Minister Chirag Paswan rejected the allegations as “empty claims.” He demanded evidence, asking “Where do they get this data from If you have any facts, present them and the government will respond.”
Analysts say the charge highlights growing unease over election-financing and the transparency of fund utilisation in one of India’s most politically contested states. The JSP’s claim, if verified, could raise questions about the accountability of international development funds when used in politically sensitive contexts.
The ruling alliance has not yet publicly submitted a detailed rebuttal of the specific figures. Meanwhile, the allegation is expected to figure prominently in campaign debates as votes are cast in the 2025 Bihar Assembly election.
