Bihar BJP MLA criticises own government for distributing ₹10,000

BJP MLA Vinay Bihari has publicly questioned the NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over the transfer of ₹10000 crore to JEEViKA didis before the 2025 assembly election, turning criticism from within the ruling party into a political flashpoint in Bihar.

BJP MLA questions timing of cash distribution

Mr. Bihari, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Lauriya assembly constituency and a former Minister, said the government’s decision had left him unhappy and raised wider questions about governance, public spending and electoral politics.

His video, dated September 21, 2026, has gone viral on social media, and in it he is seen directly questioning the functioning of the National Democratic Alliance government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

Speaking to district reporters in Buxar, Mr. Bihari asked why money needed to be distributed at election time if the government’s development work was already visible.

“If we are already doing developmental work and development is visible, then what was the need to distribute money during election time?

Due to that, today’s developmental work is being hampered,” Mr. Bihari said.

He further argued that development will take place if there is a burden of debt, and that challenges will arise in mobilising resources for schemes in the future also.

The MLA’s criticism matters because it comes from within the BJP at a time when the opposition has also been attacking the state government over money transfers and alleged freebies linked to the election.

“Speaking more will cost a ticket”

Mr. Bihari also indicated that he understood the political risk of publicly criticising his own government.

He expressed apprehension that he may face disciplinary action for speaking against the government.

“For me, the Bharatiya Janata Party is like a temple; however, if something goes wrong even in a temple, my conscience tells me to speak out about it.

I do not know whether I should speak or not, but speaking less will cost votes, speaking more will cost a ticket, and speaking excessively will cost your head.

I do not know what the consequences of this statement would be, and I may be punished,” Mr. Bihari said.

His remarks placed internal dissent alongside the opposition’s existing criticism of the government’s financial decisions before and after the election.

Scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Months before the Assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the scheme through videoconferencing from Delhi.

At that launch, ₹7,500 crore was directly transferred into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women across Bihar.

So far, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has transferred money to over 1.81 crore women under Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.

The stated aim of the scheme is to empower women through financial assistance to start their own businesses.

The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress in Bihar have repeatedly accused the state government of winning the election by giving bribes before the election.

More recently, the opposition has claimed that the state treasury is bankrupt due to freebies announced during the election.

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed supported Mr. Bihari’s stand, saying that he spoke from his conscience.

Mr. Ahmed also alleged that the NDA has formed the government by giving bribes to women before the election.

BJP says there is “100% democracy” in party

Asked about a party MLA speaking the language of the opposition, Bihar BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna told The Hindu that there is “100% democracy” in the party.

“There is 100% democracy in our party but there are places, there are times, there are issues on which everyone is free to tell.

You have to be conscious about the place and issue where you are speaking.

Democracy does not mean that you will speak whatever you want.

There is no scarcity of funds in the state, and he may not be aware of it.

JEEViKA didis deserved that; they have done excellent work in Bihar and have created the domestic market of nearly ₹60000 crore,” Mr. Krishna said.

The BJP response defended both the party’s internal space for views and the government’s position that funds were available for the welfare measure.

It also framed the transfer as recognition of work done by JEEViKA didis in Bihar, while rejecting the suggestion that the state faced a scarcity of funds.

Earlier criticism on prohibition and political privileges

Mr. Bihari’s latest remarks are not the first time he has publicly criticised the government.

Earlier, he had criticised the government over prohibition in the state.

He had said that liquor was being sold everywhere in Bihar and that police were very much aware about it.

He had even demanded review of the prohibition law.

The BJP MLA has also raised questions about the issues of age limits in politics, the salaries and pensions received by politicians, and eligibility to contest elections.

He questioned how a person in prison could contest elections when an ordinary citizen in jail is barred from voting.

He also asked about salaries and pensions received by politicians, given that politics is supposed to be a form of public service.

Mr. Bihari asked why there should be provisions for salary and pension in return for such service.

Taken together, his comments moved beyond one welfare scheme and touched on the cost of politics, the use of public funds, prohibition, election eligibility and the benefits given to elected representatives.

The report was published on September 24, 2026 04:22 am IST.

Source: The Hindu