Tejashwi Yadav Accuses Nitish Government of Exploiting Public Funds for Election Purposes
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Synopsis
Tejashwi Yadav has accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of misusing public funds for political gain ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, alleging financial mismanagement and the siphoning of taxpayer money through various initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- Tejashwi Yadav accuses Nitish Kumar of fund misuse.
- Claims Rs 225 crore spent on digital vehicles for political campaigns.
- Alleges large-scale financial mismanagement by the government.
- Ministers reportedly taking commissions on projects.
- Growing state debt concerns highlighted by Tejashwi.
Patna, April 19 (NationPress) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the JD(U) are manipulating public funds under the pretext of community engagement to support their political agenda for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
During a press conference at the party's headquarters in Patna, Tejashwi accused the government of diverting taxpayer money through programs like 'Mahila Samvad,' which he termed a facade for political messaging.
“The Nitish Kumar administration has authorized the purchase of digital vehicles worth Rs 225 crore in the name of Mahila Samvad,” Tejashwi stated.
He remarked, “A total of 600 digital election chariots have been approved using taxpayer funds, with the Rural Development Department allocating Rs 225 crore for what they refer to as the CM’s 'journey,' a campaign that appears to have undergone several name changes to disguise its true intent.”
Tejashwi accused the government of engaging in massive financial mismanagement, claiming that Rs 76,622 crore worth of projects were sanctioned in merely six to seven cabinet meetings since December 2024, with the majority being construction-related.
He highlighted that Rs 1,949 crore was authorized in a single cabinet meeting on December 19. “Ministers are accepting 30 percent commissions on these projects,” he alleged.
“Tenders are being expedited to cover election expenses, and local contractors are being overlooked in favor of outsiders,” Tejashwi claimed, labeling the situation as a theft of public funds.
He also cautioned about the escalating state debt, stating that Rs 25,000–30,000 crore is paid annually in interest, representing 8-9 percent of the state's total borrowing.
On Friday, Chief Minister Nitish inaugurated the ambitious 'Mahila Samvad' initiative aimed at reaching out to over 2 crore women, informing them about government programs, and promoting self-reliance.
According to the agenda, 600 events were conducted on the campaign's first day, with plans for 70,000 Mahila Samvad programs to be held statewide over the next 60 days.
