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Bribe or Benefit? Explosive Debate Over India's Election Freebie Culture | Democratic Newsroom

📅 October 26, 2025 12:00 AM 🕐 Scraped: October 26, 2025

Summary: On this special report, India Today's Preeti Chaudhary, Rajdeep Sardesai, and Gaurav Sawant debate the explosive issue of election freebies versus welfarism, sparked by competitive populism in states like Bihar. As Rajdeep Sardesai puts it, a woman in Kolhapur questioned the disparity, asking, 'Sir, we got 1500 rupees and you call it a bribe? These big politicians make 1500 crores, what about them?'. The discussion weighs whether direct cash transfers are a lazy political shortcut that harms state finances or a crucial support system for the needy. The panel explores the origins of 'revdi culture', citing the DMK's 1967 rice scheme, and contrasts transformative public goods like bicycles for girls in Bihar with unaudited pre-poll handouts, questioning their impact on development goals like education and health.

This special report focuses on the shifting political dynamics in Bihar, highlighting an apparent truce between Chief Minister

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🌍 India Today

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October 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM

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