Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced major financial initiatives for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, both governed by key NDA allies—Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP. Both parties are crucial supporters of the BJPled Central Government.
Sitharaman unveiled a series of developmental projects, proposing over Rs 60,000 crore for various initiatives in Bihar, which faces assembly elections next year, and Rs 15,000 crore this fiscal year for the development of Andhra Pradesh’s capital, a key project for Chief Minister Naidu. The support for Bihar comes in the form of capital projects rather than subsidies or cash handouts. For Andhra Pradesh, the Rs 15,000 crore allocation is through multilateral agencies, with a similar request for Bihar to be expedited.
The emphasis on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh is notable as Kumar and Naidu played pivotal roles in helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secure a third term. The BJP won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, falling short of the 272 majority mark. Within the NDA, TDP and JD(U) are significant contributors with 16 and 12 seats, respectively.
Both JD(U) and TDP have advocated strongly for special category status for their states, and both leaders welcomed the special package in the Union budget 2024-25. Chief Minister Kumar noted that the “special help” announced in the budget addressed the state’s concerns, explaining that Bihar had requested special assistance from the Centre if special status was not technically feasible. This was granted in the budget.
