In an all-party meeting ahead of the Parliament session, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Janata Dal (United) and YSRCP advocated for special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
He noted the absence of any mention from the TDP on the issue. JD(U), a significant NDA ally, had recently passed a resolution urging for special status or an alternative package for Bihar.
In a post on X, Ramesh, who was present at the meeting said, “In today’s all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status of Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter.”
Demands for special category status in Andhra Pradesh have resurfaced following the Lok Sabha elections.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the parliamentary session commencing on Monday. The session, spanning from July 22 to August 12, will encompass 19 sittings.
The government aims to introduce six bills, notably one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, and seeks Parliament’s approval for the budget of Jammu and Kashmir, currently under central rule.
Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey in Parliament on Monday, July 22.
Besides Rajnath Singh, Parliametary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP president J P Nadda, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan were among the the leaders who attended the meet. Congress’ Ramesh and K Suresh, Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, JD(U) Sanjay Jha, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and NCP’s Praful Patel were present at the customary meet.