Prashant Kishor Claims Rs 100 Crore Per Seat Could Ensure Electoral Victory in Bihar

Prashant Kishor engaged in an exclusive conversation with Rahul Kanwal discussing electoral dynamics.

Former election strategist Prashant Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj party failed to secure any seats during its first electoral attempt in Bihar recently, asserted that winning future elections would be more straightforward if he received Rs 100 crore for each individual constituency in the state.

Bihar comprises 243 assembly constituencies. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved a decisive victory in Bihar last week, capturing 202 seats in the two-phase election process.

"Provide me Rs 100 crore per seat, and I will secure victory. All support will shift in your favor under those circumstances," Kishor explained to NDTV's Rahul Kanwal during the 'Walk The Talk' program.

"Citizens who were apprehensive about Lalu Prasad - alluding to the Jungle Raj period - supported the NDA... those who received Rs 10,000, regardless of caste affiliation, voted for the NDA," he continued, referencing the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana,' through which Rs 10,000 was deposited into each woman's bank account in the state prior to the elections.

The Jan Suraaj party founder made these statements while alleging that votes were purchased for between Rs 70 to Rs 80 crore during the electoral process. These remarks also emerged when questioned about the impact of his persistent claims that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is unwell and unsuited for another term.

When asked whether such controversial statements might provoke emotional responses among voters, Kishor responded: "If we're discussing vote buying, then such a model has operated in Odisha as well. There was considerable speculation regarding (former Chief Minister) Naveen Patnaik's health. The authorities there would manage the elections and Patnaik would emerge victorious. People assumed he was highly popular. This pattern continued for 20-25 years."

He further stated: "Similarly, the Bihar elections were conducted using government funds. Don't oversimplify and assume everything is perfectly fine."

On Saturday, Kishor alleged that the Nitish Kumar-led government "diverted" a Rs 14,000-crore World Bank fund for the assembly elections. He claimed these funds were "diverted for doles and freebies".

"From June until the announcement of polls, Rs 40,000 crore was expended" by the Nitish Kumar government to "purchase" votes through public finances, he maintained.

"The scale was unprecedented. Even Rs 14,000 crore of the loan received from the World Bank has been diverted for doles and freebies," he alleged.

Referring to the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana,' he observed, "This likely represents the first instance where people continued receiving money until the day before voting occurred, despite the model code of conduct being in effect. This was sufficient to influence women who might have been living subsistence lifestyles."

In the elections held on November 6 and 11, with results announced on Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 89 seats, Janata Dal (United) 85, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 19, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) five, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha four.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Opposition alliance - the Mahagathbandhan - managed only 35 seats. While the RJD obtained just 25 seats, marking its second-worst performance in a Bihar election after 2010, the Congress won six seats, down from 19, the CPI(ML)L secured two seats, the CPI(M) one, and the CPI none.