BJP Takes A Big Gamble With No Special Sops For Poll-Bound States

In her 2024-25 budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opened her coffers for states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

While Bihar is set to get a minimum of Rs 58,500 crore for various infrastructure projects from the Centre, Andhra Pradesh will get at least Rs 15,000 crore to develop its capital city. Both states have been rewarded for their respective chief ministers’ decision to support Narendra Modi government 3.0.

However, just like general elections of 2024, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also facing trouble in three more poll bound states — Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. While, terms of current assemblies of Haryana and Maharashtra are expected to end in November this year, for Jharkhand, it will wind up in January 2025.

In Haryana, BJP is in charge and is facing huge anti-incumbency, primarily because of lacklustre second term of former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who had to be sent to Centre. In Maharashtra, the party’s declining fortunes are highlighted by its debacle in the Lok Sabha polls, 2024.

Additionally, in tribal-dominated Jharkhand, the party has lost clout among tribals and has a big challenge of dethroning Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

With the big Lok Sabha election setbacks in the background and more lurking in foresight, the average observer of Indian politics does expect some big announcements for the poll bound states. That is in fact an established political wisdom, so much so that when past governments used to do that, very few voices would oppose it.

However, BJP has traditionally largely refrained from doing so. Its finance ministers have emphasised more on fiscal prudence than political one.

Maharashtra and Haryana did not even find a mention in Sitharaman’s budget speech, while Jharkhand’s name propped up only once and that too because she announced a special plan named Purvoday: Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi for eastern states, of which Jharkhand is also a part.

It is true that budget provisions for social justice and inclusive human resources will indirectly benefit these states as well, it is tough to milk them in political battlegrounds.

Inadvertently, BJP has given a new ammunition to opposition parties in these states.