Bihar can develop only with double-engine govt, says Union Minister Chirag Paswan

Paswan said that the BJP-led NDA will contest elections in Bihar under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar.

In the run-up to the assembly elections next year, Union Minister Chirag Paswan claimed that Bihar can develop only with double-engine government. "This time too, the opposition made many claims in the Lok Sabha elections. What was the actual result? We won most of the seats in Bihar. My party won all 5 seats," Paswan told ANI on Sunday.

Bihar is expected to go to polls in October-November 2025. "The people have made up their minds that Bihar can develop only with the double-engine government," he added.

He further said that the BJP-led NDA will contest elections in Bihar under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. Speaking on Bihar's demand for special status, the Union Minister said that it is not pressure politics but a long-standing demand.

"Which party of Bihar won't demand that, or agree with that demand? We are in favour of this. We are in the NDA govt, BJP is the biggest party in the alliance, and PM Modi is our leader on whom we all have trust. If we don't put this demand before him, to whom we will ask for this?" he asked. "The status should be given. It is our hope. We will also discuss the provisions that need to be changed so that we can fulfil the long-standing demand of Biharis," he added.

Under the current provisions, special status for states does not exist. With the dissolution of 13th planning commission in August 2014, the 14th finance commission has not made any distinction between special and general category states. The government accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, and from April 1, 2015, it hiked the tax devolution to states from Centre, to 42 per cent from 32 per cent earlier, and also added a new provision of revenue deficit grants to states facing any resource gap.

Under the new provision, the total devolution to states in 2015-16 was hiked to Rs 5.26 lakh crore as against Rs 3.48 lakh crore in 2014-15, an increase of Rs 1.78 lakh crore. In addition to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan have also been demanding special category status. st. But, central government has the option to grant additional financial aid package to states having revenue deficit and facing resource gap. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar may be granted additional funds under this scheme. (ANI)

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