‘Official bribe’: Prashant Kishor on Nitish Kumar’s Rs 10,000 transfer to women ahead of polls

Jan Suraaj founder and former political strategist Prashant Kishor has accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government of transferring Rs 10,000 to women as “an official bribe” to secure votes ahead of the state Assembly elections, The Indian Express reported.

The Assembly polls are due to be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, while the votes will be counted on November 14.

On October 3, the state government transferred Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 25 lakh women residents under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. The scheme aims to support one woman in each family to start a small business.

The payment was among a series of welfare measures announced by Kumar in the run-up to the elections.

In recent months, the Janata Dal (United) government has raised the stipend for anganwadi workers and helpers, made up to 125 units of electricity free for consumers, tripled old-age pensions and increased allowances for panchayat representatives and Jeevika workers.

On Saturday, Kishor alleged that these measures were politically motivated.

“The old-age pension did not rise by even Rs 10 in 20 years, it stayed at Rs 400,” The Indian Express quoted Kishor as saying. “Now, how has it suddenly jumped to Rs 1,100.”

Talking about the Mukhyamatri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, he said: “This Rs 10,000 is an officially declared bribe. They are giving it and...

Read more