JD(U) Has No Bargaining Power In NDA? Modi Government Rejects Bihar's Demand For Special Status

Citing the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report 2012, the Narendra Modi government has rejected the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)]'s demand for a special state status for Bihar.

In a written response to Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Ramprit Mandal, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said there are five criteria for a state to be considered for special status.

"These features included (i) hilly and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population, (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of State finances," he said.

"Earlier, the request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which submitted its Report on 30 March 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 added.

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has been demanding for a special status for Bihar for long time. It reiterated the demand in the all-party meeting held yesterday (21 July), along with other states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

However, despite JD(U) playing an important role in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to secure a majority on its own, the demand was rejected by the ruling NDA government.