Prashant Kishor Accuses Government of Buying 15 Million Votes in Bihar with Public Funds

Protests demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, were held in Delhi on Saturday, organized by the Kakaroch Janata Party (CJP). At the demonstration, Prashant Kishor, leader of the Jansuraj Party and a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, responded with sharp criticism. Kishor accused the Election Commission of aiding the misuse of government funds to buy votes in Bihar.

In an interview with news agency PTI, Kishor expressed that over the past eight to ten years, a large section of society has become dissatisfied with the Election Commission’s working style and the conduct of elections. He clarified that this issue is not limited to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alone but is related to the overall election process. Kishor accused the commission and its officials of assisting the ruling party in various stages, including preparing voter lists, making amendments in Forms 6 and 7, deleting names through Special Intensive Review (SIR), scheduling election dates, enforcing the model code of conduct, alleged irregularities in vote counting, and appointing election observers.

Kishor claimed that up to two days before voting in Bihar, the government treasury distributed Rs 10,000 per person, effectively buying votes with public money. “Not one or two lakh, but 15 million votes were purchased,” he said. Accusing the Election Commission of facilitating this process, Kishor asserted that even the government coffers of Bihar are now empty. “If Rs 10,000 was given from public funds to buy votes, why would those people work in the public interest?” he questioned. Kishor mentioned that voices are rising against the Election Commission due to its role in creating such a situation. He emphasized that all political parties and individuals who wish to restore and strengthen democracy must stand for comprehensive and transparent reforms in the Election Commission. He also noted that the Jansuraj Party supports such reforms.