Following the Narendra Modi government’s decision to deny Bihar’s request for special status, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offered a cryptic response. Kumar, whose Janata Dal (United) party with 12 Lok Sabha MPs plays a significant role as an ally in the NDA coalition, responded vaguely when questioned about the central government’s stance in Parliament.
He remarked, Kumar, whose JD (U) with 12 Lok Sabha MPs is a key ally of the ruling NDA at the Centre, was asked about the Union government’s statement in Parliament on Monday. “You will get to know all things slowly, and slowly (sab kuchh dhire dhire jaan jaaiyega),” the longest-serving CM of the state said, in reply to a volley of questions he faced from journalists at the Bihar Assembly.
The BJP, which fell short of a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, relied heavily on allies like JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP to form the government. Although the BJP secured 240 seats, it reached the majority mark of 272 with the support of its partners.
Despite the central government’s refusal to grant special status to Bihar, JD(U) leaders maintain that the Union Budget includes provisions for significant support, including a “special package.” They believe Bihar will still benefit from the Modi administration’s plans.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her Union Budget 2024 presentation, announced substantial financial aid for Bihar. The government plans to allocate ₹26,000 crore for various road development projects in the state. Additionally, Sitharaman revealed that Bihar will receive further financial assistance through collaborations with multilateral development agencies.
The Budget also includes initiatives to build airports, medical colleges, and sports facilities in Bihar. Sitharaman introduced “Plan Purvodaya,” aimed at fostering comprehensive development in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
