Political Friction Unleashed as Bihar Cabinet Pushes for Special Category Status

A political storm has erupted in Bihar following the approval of a resolution by the Nitish Kumar cabinet seeking special category status for the state. RJD chief Lalu Prasad, amidst leaving for a routine medical checkup in Delhi, targeted the Centre, asserting that if Bihar is denied special state status, the Narendra Modi government will face ousting from the Centre.

Speaking to journalists at Patna airport, Lalu emphasized the necessity for Bihar to be granted special state status. He declared, “Bihar must get the status of a special state.”.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi swiftly countered Lalu’s stance, dismissing the resolution as a mere political maneuver. Modi argued that the concept of “special status” has been invalidated by the 14th Finance Commission, making the pursuit of such status a futile endeavor.

“No matter how much Nitish Kumar whips this dead horse, the horse is not going to run,” remarked Modi, a senior BJP functionary, expressing skepticism towards the effectiveness of the resolution.

Modi further asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has extended considerable support to Bihar through special economic packages, far surpassing the benefits of special status. He criticized the RJD-JD (U) alliance for failing to acknowledge the assistance provided by the central government.

Highlighting the past tenures of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad as influential ministers in the central government, Modi questioned why they did not secure special state status for Bihar during that time. He called upon the Congress, a key member of the grand alliance government, to explain why the Manmohan Singh-led government did not grant special state status to Bihar from 2004 to 2014.

Modi referenced the Raghuram Rajan Committee, formed on the initiative of Nitish Kumar during the UPA government, which rejected the demand for “special status.” He underscored that despite lacking special status, Bihar witnessed significant development, with a special central package lifting 2.5 crore people above the poverty line. Bihar currently receives the highest amount of Rs 1.02 lakh crore as its share in central taxes after Uttar Pradesh, according to Modi.