Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pushed for the state’s special category status at the party’s national executive meeting held in Delhi on Saturday, The Indian Express reported. The party passed a resolution demanding either a special category status or special package for Bihar. This demand is particularly significant now, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP relies on the backing of Kumar’s JD(U), to sustain its majority at the Centre. For context, the JD(U) holds 12 seats in the newly elected Lok Sabha.
One of the main perks for states that got the special category status was that the central government covered 90% of the costs for centrally sponsored schemes, with the state only paying 10%. For other states, the split was 60% from the Centre and 40% from the state. Additionally, special category states received 90% of their Normal Central Assistance as grants and 10% as loans, while other states got 30% as grants and 70% as loans.
According to media reports, JD(U) insiders have revealed that the party is determined to pursue special category status for Bihar, a demand that they’ve had for a long time. This call was reiterated in the political proposal during their recent meeting. Additionally, the party may also request a special financial package for the state.
The JD(U) is reportedly also pushing the Centre to include the increased reservations for Extremely Backward Classes, Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Casts in the ninth schedule. This comes despite the Patna High Court’s decision to overturn Bihar’s move to allocate 65 percent quota to these groups based on the state’s first-ever caste survey.