NDA Government Rejects Bihar’s Special Status Demand, Cites 2012 IMG Report
Patna, 22nd July 2024: On Monday, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government announced that it cannot grant special status to Bihar, citing the 2012 Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report. This decision is a significant setback for Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (U), a key ally of the BJP.
In a written response to Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Ramprit Mandal, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary explained that special category status for plan assistance was previously awarded by the National Development Council (NDC) to certain states with specific characteristics. These included difficult terrain, low population density or a significant tribal population, strategic border locations, economic and infrastructural backwardness, and unsustainable state finances.
Chaudhary noted that the IMG, in its report dated March 30, 2012, evaluated Bihar’s request for special category status based on these criteria and concluded that Bihar did not meet the requirements for such status.
The JD(U), which has long advocated for special status for Bihar, reiterated its demand during an all-party meeting on Sunday, just before the Parliament session. The BJP, which secured 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, falls short of the majority mark of 272 and relies on support from JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party, who together hold 28 seats in the lower house.
In addition to JD(U)’s demands, the Telugu Desam Party, led by Chandrababu Naidu, has also sought special status for Andhra Pradesh, which was bifurcated in 2014 to create the new state of Telangana.
