Patna (Bihar) [India], Ahead of next year's assembly elections, Union Minister Chirag Paswan asserted that Bihar can only develop with a dual-engine government.
"This time too, the opposition made a lot of claims in the Lok Sabha elections. What was the actual result? We won most of the seats in Bihar. My party won all five seats," Paswan told ANI on Sunday.
Bihar is expected to go to polls in October-November 2025.
"People have decided that Bihar can only be developed with a twin-engine government," he added.
He further said that the BJP-led NDA will contest the elections in Bihar under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar.
Talking about Bihar's demand for special status, the Union Minister said it is not a pressure policy but a long-standing demand.
"Which party in Bihar will not demand that or agree to that demand? We are for this. We are in the NDA government, the BJP is the largest party in the alliance and PM Modi is our leader , whom we all support". Have confidence. If we don't file this lawsuit with you, who will we ask for it? he asked.
"The status should be granted. This is our hope. We will also discuss the provisions that need to be changed so that we can meet the long-standing demand of the Biharis," he added.
Under current provisions, there is no special status for states. With the dissolution of the 13th planning commission in August 2014, the 14th finance commission did not make any distinction between special and general category statuses.
The government accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and, with effect from April 1, 2015, increased tax devolution to states at the Centre, to 42 per cent from the earlier 32 per cent, and also added a new provision of revenue deficit subsidies to states. against any resource deficit.
Under the new provision, the total devolution to states in 2015-16 rose to Rs 5.26 lakh crore as against Rs 3.48 lakh crore in 2014-15, an increase of Rs 1.78 lakh crore.
Besides Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have also demanded special category status. street. But the central government has the option of providing an additional financial relief package to states that have revenue shortfalls and face a resource gap. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar may receive additional funds under this scheme.
"This time too, the opposition made a lot of claims in the Lok Sabha elections. What was the actual result? We won most of the seats in Bihar. My party won all five seats," Paswan told ANI on Sunday.
Bihar is expected to go to polls in October-November 2025.
"People have decided that Bihar can only be developed with a twin-engine government," he added.
He further said that the BJP-led NDA will contest the elections in Bihar under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar.
Talking about Bihar's demand for special status, the Union Minister said it is not a pressure policy but a long-standing demand.
"Which party in Bihar will not demand that or agree to that demand? We are for this. We are in the NDA government, the BJP is the largest party in the alliance and PM Modi is our leader , whom we all support". Have confidence. If we don't file this lawsuit with you, who will we ask for it? he asked.
"The status should be granted. This is our hope. We will also discuss the provisions that need to be changed so that we can meet the long-standing demand of the Biharis," he added.
Under current provisions, there is no special status for states. With the dissolution of the 13th planning commission in August 2014, the 14th finance commission did not make any distinction between special and general category statuses.
The government accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and, with effect from April 1, 2015, increased tax devolution to states at the Centre, to 42 per cent from the earlier 32 per cent, and also added a new provision of revenue deficit subsidies to states. against any resource deficit.
Under the new provision, the total devolution to states in 2015-16 rose to Rs 5.26 lakh crore as against Rs 3.48 lakh crore in 2014-15, an increase of Rs 1.78 lakh crore.
Besides Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have also demanded special category status. street. But the central government has the option of providing an additional financial relief package to states that have revenue shortfalls and face a resource gap. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar may receive additional funds under this scheme.
