The Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist Prashant Kishor, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the conduct and outcome of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, alleging that government actions during the poll period compromised the principle of free and fair elections.
In its petition filed under Article 32, the party has questioned the decision to transfer ₹10,000 directly to women beneficiaries under a state welfare scheme while the Model Code of Conduct was in effect. According to the petition, new beneficiaries were added and payments were released after the election schedule was announced, which the party claims amounted to an electoral inducement and violated constitutional guarantees of equality and democratic fairness.
The plea further alleges that the continuation and expansion of the scheme during the election period breached provisions of the Representation of the People Act, which prohibits corrupt practices intended to influence voters. The party has argued that such direct benefit transfers, when timed alongside elections, have the potential to distort voter choice and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Jan Suraaj has also raised objections to the deployment of nearly 1.8 lakh women associated with self-help groups, including members of JEEVIKA, at polling booths across Bihar. The petition contends that their involvement during both phases of voting created an uneven playing field and could have impacted voter behaviour.
Along with seeking the setting aside of the election results, the party has urged the Election Commission of India to frame clearer and stricter norms on the rollout of welfare schemes and Direct Benefit Transfers ahead of elections. It has proposed that no new schemes or expansion of existing ones be permitted within a defined period suggested as six months prior to polling once the election process begins.
The matter is expected to be examined by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, in the coming days.
The post Prashant Kishor led Jan Suraaj challenges Bihar Elections in Supreme Court over welfare transfers appeared first on India Legal.