Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are getting restless over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s bonhomie with the Congress regarding special category status to his state.
Two days after the first meeting of the high-powered advisory committee constituted by the Centre to revisit the criteria to determine backwardness of states in New Delhi, the BJP, Janata Dal-United’s alliance partner in Bihar, remain extremely critical of the Congress' inclination to grant special status to the state.
The six-member committee headed by chief economic adviser of the Union finance ministry, Raghuram G Rajan, was constituted on May 15 following Nitish’s repeated demand of special category status to Bihar.
Nitish along with JD-U leaders are delighted as they see Congress warming up to their demand. Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and other ministers over the last three weeks have hinted at the Centre’s inclination to grant Bihar special status.
The BJP, however, maintained that that the United Progressive Alliance’s assurance was a 'chhalaawa' (illusion). BJP’s national general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who hails from Bihar, said that it was not possible for the state to get special status. “We don't expect anything from the UPA on this count. I don't think the Bihar government will be influenced by the assurances given by the UPA government regarding the special category status.”
Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said, “I don’t believe that Chidambaram will grant special category status.” Referring to Nitish’s proximity to the UPA he said that the Congress charges a price for everything. “It uses the CBI against its alliance partners and opponents. No sane person or party should get close to the Congress currently when its ministers are resigning in hordes on the issue of corruption. It is too discredited to make friends and allies."
Sensing the mood of BJP leaders, Nitish said that the fight for special status should not be construed as a political issue but more as a cause for the state. “The demand should be looked at as the right of the people of the state. The country can develop only if Bihar does.”
What made BJP leaders even more uncomfortable was Nitish cosying up the Chidambaram when he visited Nalanda and Patna last week. Nitish took Chidambaram to the Congress party office in Sadaquat Ashram in his car.
Nitish has been persistent in his demand. In March, he held a rally at Delhi's Ramlila ground to pressure on the Centre to grant special status. Last November, he held a rally in Patna for mobilising support for the same cause.
Nitish has been finding no support from the BJP, who are worried that if the Bihar CM has his way it will not only enhance his image, but will also strengthen his relationship with the Congress. Clearly, a danger sign for the saffron party ahead of next year’s general elections.
