Cash Transfer Scheme Influenced Bihar Voters: Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party chief, has raised concerns about the recent Bihar Assembly election results. He claims that a government-backed cash transfer scheme influenced the outcome. According to Pawar, Rs 10,000 was deposited into women's bank accounts just before voting, which swayed their decisions significantly.

Pawar expressed his worries in Baramati, mentioning feedback from Bihar indicating that women voters turned out in large numbers due to this financial incentive. "Women had taken the election into their own hands. All of them received Rs 10,000 each in their accounts, and that seems to have had a direct impact on the result," he alleged.

Concerns Over Election Integrity

Pawar drew comparisons with Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin scheme, where Rs 1,500 was credited to women before elections. He highlighted a growing trend of governments distributing money before polls. This practice could undermine public trust in elections if it continues unchecked.

The NCP leader stressed that such actions raise questions about transparency and fairness in the electoral process. "When Rs 10,000 is given across the state and elections follow, people naturally feel the process is not clean," he said.

BJP's Response to Allegations

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Pawar's accusations as an excuse for electoral defeat. He stated that winners should accept victory gracefully while losers should introspect and learn from their mistakes. "In an election, the one who wins is the real Sikandar," he remarked.

Fadnavis defended his party's welfare schemes, asserting that they were well-received by the public. He emphasized that every party has the right to introduce such initiatives and it is ultimately up to voters to judge their effectiveness.