Days after denying special status to Bihar, the Modi Government announced a plethora of development projects and infrastructure push for the BJP-JDU-ruled Bihar. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday tabled Budget 2024-25 and the major funds were allocated to BJP's allies ruled states i.e. Bihar & Andhra Pradesh. In fact, Sitharaman announced that Bihar will get a special package for development works. Notably, it was due to Bihar's JDU & Andhra Pradesh's TDP support that PM Modi came back to power for the third time at the Centre.
Apart from Bihar, Sitharaman announced an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh’s development in the current financial year, with assurances of further funds in subsequent years. Emphasising the commitment to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, she pledged grants for the backward regions of the state, along with a special mention of the Polavaram Dam project. After the Budget 2024-25 announcement, the opposition slammed the Modi Government for playing 'coalition politics'.
Rahul Gandhi called Budget 2024 a 'Kursi Bachao Budget' (Save power budget) and stated that hollow promises were made to Bihar & Andhra Pradesh 'at the cost of other states'.
Is Budget 2024 an attempt to save NDA Govt at Centre?
Well, this is what the breakdown of Budget 2024 suggests. A few days back, the Centre ruled out any plan to give a special category status to Bihar. Special category for Bihar is a core demand by BJP's key ally, the Janata Dal (United). Thereafter, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) took a swipe at JDU leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 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 and other most backward states to promote economic growth and industrialisation. In a written response, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said "case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out".
Notably, the Centre's refusal of Bihar's special status ignited Lalu Yadav's earlier remarks in which he had stated that Modi's coalition government could fall by August 2024. "I appeal to all party workers to be ready, as elections can happen anytime. Modi's government in Delhi is very weak, and it could fall by August," Lalu Yadav had said.
Notably, Nitish Kumar who is infamous for switching sides and called 'Paltu Chacha' by RJD's Tejashwi Yadav reportedly extended his support to the BJP over conditions that Bihar's development will increase. Apart from Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan had also spoken in favour of the special status of Bihar.
However, after the Budget 2024-25 announcement, it seems like the winds of change have stopped as both Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have got a major chunk of funds.
For those who have forgotten the BJP-led NDA alliance came to power after securing a majority in the recently concluded assembly polls. The BJP, which was hoping to securing over 300 seats, was restricted to 240 seats and had to rely on alliance partners to form a coalition government. Allocation of funds to Bihar & Andhra Pradesh was critical to the stability of the NDA government at the Centre with their TDP & JDU's 16 and 12 MPs.