The political outcomes of the fractured mandate that emerged in the recent Lok Sabha elections have once again brought TDP and JD(U) into the center stage for the formation of government at the Center. In turn, the leaders of these parties may renew their earlier preconditions seeking special status for their states: Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
The Fifth Finance Commission announced special category status in 1969 to help the development of economically valuable states located in a specific region of the country. Presently, eleven states, including Telangana, come under this category, which offers more central grants and sponsorship, in addition to other forms of financial assistance.
There is nothing new in the two states, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, demanding special status for their states for many years. It has long claimed this since the state was bifurcated in 2014, saying that it was causing revenue losses to the state.
Its efficacy has been claimed by Bihar, which sought it since the creation of Jharkhand in 2000. Such attempts have, however, been in the past made by leaders such as Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar but have in the past failed to achieve this status due to the persisting stance of the central government.
The provision of special status appears to offer these states the potential for receiving further central monies besides the flow of investments to major domains. Throughout TDP & JD(U) tenure, this demand may have been mostly part of the party manifesto, but as the new government is formed, this may be the perfect chance for the two parties to leverage on the same and get the demand fulfilled.
