Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Apr 19: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the JD(U) of misusing public funds to fuel their campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Speaking in Patna, Tejashwi alleged that the government’s 'Mahila Samvad' initiative is a political front masked as a public outreach programme. He claimed that Rs 225 crore has been spent on 600 digital chariots under the Rural Development Department, which he described as “election vehicles” disguised as state-sponsored tools.

He further alleged that Rs 76,622 crore worth of schemes—mostly construction-related—were approved in just six to seven cabinet meetings since December 2024. On December 19 alone, Rs 1,949 crore was cleared. According to him, ministers are taking 30% commissions and tenders are being rushed through, often sidelining local contractors.

Tejashwi warned of Bihar’s growing debt burden, stating that Rs 25,000–30,000 crore is being paid annually as interest, amounting to nearly 9% of the state’s total borrowings.

On Friday, Nitish Kumar launched the Mahila Samvad campaign aimed at informing over 2 crore women about government schemes. Around 600 events were held on the first day, with 70,000 scheduled over 60 days. Tejashwi, however, dismissed it as a taxpayer-funded political promotion.