Saturday 19 April 2025
Controversy Erupts Over Alleged US Aid For Indian Elections
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Elon Musk-led Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) stirred controversy by revealing that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had allocated $21 million to Indias Election Commission (EC) for boosting voter turnout. This revelation has triggered concerns over potential electoral interference in the worlds largest democracy and led to strong reactions from political circles, especially from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
On Sunday, DOGE announced via a post on X that the US had decided to cut international aid programs, including the contentious $21 million funding for voter turnout in India and a $29 million initiative aimed at strengthening Bangladeshs political landscape. The move was part of a broader cost-cutting strategy by the US government under President Donald Trumps administration,
DOGEs disclosure suggested that US taxpayer money was being funneled into electoral processes abroad, raising alarm bells about the transparency and the legitimacy of such funding. The departments announcement included a list of cancelled programs worldwide, such $486 million to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, which encompassed $22 million for voter turnout efforts in India.
In response to these claims, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), S Y Quraishi, called the claims categorically false and denied any such funding arrangements. Quraishi, who served as the 17th CEC from July 2010 to June 2012, dismissed the allegations as completely false and malicious.
The report in a section of meida about an MoU by ECI in 2012 when I was CEC, for funding of a certain million dollars by a US agency for raising voter turnout in India, does not have an iota of fact, Quraishi stated on X.
The ruling BJP reacted strongly to DOGEs claims, demanding an investigation into the matter. Amit Malviya, the BJPs IT cel chief, expressed concerns over foreign funding ptotentially influencing Indias electoral process.
$486M to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, including $22M for inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova and $21M for voter turnout in India. $21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in Indias electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure! he said on X.
According to sleuthing by India Today, the USAID disbursed around $2.9 billion to India between 2011 to 2024, averaging around $119 million annually, 44.4% during the BJP-led NDA government and 41.3% during the Congress-led UPA government.
Between US FY2021 and 2024, India received around 23% of the total ($650 million), with the highest disbursement of $228.2 million in FY2022 under former President Joe Bidens administration.
The USAID reportedly allocated $500,000 for Elections in India in 2013, ultimately disbursing around $484,158 of it between 2013 and 2019.
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