The Centre has made it clear that there is no going back on this particular policy on the matter as it turned down the special category state demand of the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), a vital NDA ally.
This decision follows a query posed by a JDU MP to the Finance Ministry concerning the government’s intention to extend financial special status to Bihar and other Easterly centre-fledged backward states.
However, the Minister of State for Finance later said that based on the criteria laid down by the NDC, the ‘case for Special Category Status’ for Bihar cannot be made out.
The special category status helps define the criterion for providing more central assistance to economically backward states; however, the Constitution does not contain provisions for this categorization. Although some states have received this status before, the government affirms that no other states are under consideration now.
It is unfolding as a major setback for the JDU, which had been banking on the fact that it was a major NDA ally to clinch the much-wanted title for Bihar. The constituent partner in the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD accused the JDU of ‘enjoying fruits of power at the Centre and remaining creed in drama politics on the special status issue.
