‘People won’t sell their future for Rs 10,000’: Prashant Kishor on Bihar poll

New Delhi: Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor on Tuesday said unlike many claimed people of Bihar would not sell their future for a paltry amount, The Indian Express reported.

Kishor was referring to the Congress’ claim that the BJP in effect bought votes with the financial assistance given to women to ‘promote self-employment and livelihood opportunities’.

‘People are saying voters sold their votes for Rs 10,000. That is not true; people here will not sell their future or their children’s future. If you calculate, Rs 10,000 comes down to Rs 5.5 per day. Who will sell their vote for such an [paltry] amount? But there is a debate going on around this,’ Prashant Kishor reportedly said.

Ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, the Nitish Kumar government announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (Chief Minister Women’s Employment Scheme).

Under the Scheme, Rs 10,000 financial assistance was given to around 1.25 crore women in the state with the Congress questioning the transfer of the money made in the run-up to the polls.

Back then, Congress leader and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot came down heavily on the Election Commission of India (ECI) citing the model code of conduct.

Prashant Kishor, however, accused the government of using government machinery to what he said lure votes.

‘In every Assembly seat, at least 60,000–62,000 people were given Rs 10,000 and promised a Rs 2 lakh loan. Government officials were on duty telling people they would get the loan if the NDA returned to power, and Jeevika didis were put on duty for this,’ he reportedly said.