Patna: Strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) has moved Supreme Court challenging the outcome of last year’s Bihar Assembly elections.
The party, which drew a blank in its electoral debut, alleged irregularities related to direct cash transfers to female voters during the election period and called for fresh polls in the state.
In a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, JSP has claimed that the direct transfer of Rs 10,000 to women just before the elections in November violated the Model Code of Conduct, which governs fair electoral practices.
The JSP urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to declare the Bihar election results “null and void”, and direct the conduct of fresh polls.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is scheduled to hear the matter on Friday.
In its petition, Jan Suraaj alleged that the ruling dispensation in Bihar engaged in “illegal, unconstitutional and corrupt practices” by enrolling fresh beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana and transferring Rs 10,000 to an estimated 25-35 lakh female voters during the election period.
As per JSP, these actions violate several constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 21, 112, 202, and 324.
Apart from cash transfers, the petition has also questioned deployment of around 1.80 lakh female beneficiaries associated with self-help groups under the state-run JEEVIKA programme at polling booths during the two phases of voting. According to JSP, this compromised the fairness of the electoral process.
Besides seeking annulment of the results, which were announced on November 14, Kishor’s party urged ECI to establish detailed guidelines for freebies and direct benefit transfer schemes, and proposed a minimum lead time of six months for implementing such schemes to prevent undue influence on voters and ensure free and fair elections.
The BJP-led NDA swept the elections, winning 202 out of 243 seats, while the INDIA bloc secured only 35 seats, including just 6 for Congress.
Jan Suraaj Party not only failed to win a single seat, its candidates lost deposits in most constituencies it contested.
