In a big blow to Nitish Kumar's JDU, Centre denies special status for Bihar

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

The Centre on Monday denied special category status to Bihar. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some states that were characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration. Ramprit Mandal, JDU MP from Bihar's Jhanjharpur, had asked the Finance Ministry if the government has a plan to provide special status to Bihar.

“The decision was made based on an integrated consideration of all factors and the peculiar situation of the state. Earlier, the request of Bihar for special category status was considered by an inter-ministerial group (IMG), which submitted its report on March 30, 2012. The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC criteria, the case for special category status for Bihar is not made out,” Chaudhary told the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)took a potshot at the JD(U).  “Bihar ko nahin milega Vishesh rajya ka darja (Bihar will not get special state status!)” the tweet by the RJD read. “Nitish Kumar and JDU can now comfortably enjoy power at the Centre and continue doing hypocritical politics on 'special state status'!” the RJD posted on X.

"बिहार को नहीं मिलेगा विशेष राज्य का दर्जा!" - संसद में मोदी सरकार।

नीतीश कुमार और JDU वाले अब आराम से केंद्र में सत्ता का रसास्वादन करते हुए 'विशेष राज्य के दर्जे' पर ढोंग की राजनीति करते रहें! pic.twitter.com/lpd8oIKEda — Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) July 22, 2024

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), which is a key constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, recently passed a resolution demanding special category status for the state.

A special status ensures more central support to a backward state to expedite its growth. The Constitution does not provide for a special status for any state. It was introduced on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969. Among the states that have received a special status so far are Jammu and Kashmir (now a Union Territory), Noreastern states and hill states such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

During an all-party meeting, the demand for special category status for Bihar came from the ruling National Democratic Alliance as well as the INDIA opposition bloc, The BJP allies — Sanjay Kumar Jha of the Janata Dal (United) and Union minister Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) — also supported the demand.  The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also joined the chorus.