The demand for the special status for Bihar is 13 years old. Nitish Kumar said that he hasn’t given up this demand ‘even for a second’. The demand was first made in 2005.
In 2006, JDU even got a resolution passed on the issue in the assembly. RJD questioned Kumar on the matter when TDP pulled out of the NDA government. Kumar said that the demand for the special status should be met before the 15th Finance Commission. He said, “I had written to the then Prime Minister for a special status to Bihar in 2005, shortly after assuming power in the state. A year later we got a resolution passed in the state assembly to the effect. Since then, the demand has been raised by us relentlessly and I have not strayed even a second. I’m amused to see those who were never concerned about the issue have suddenly started questioning my silence.”
Kumar said, “Special status is a need for Bihar. We will work towards ensuring that it is fulfilled. But we are not going to issue statements about the matter every now and then. We have always placed interests of the voters above their votes, unlike our detractors.“
The RJD threatened to protest on the streets if Kumar and his party didn’t get the demand met. The basis for the demand for the special status is the argument that the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was similar to that of Bihar. Kumar was also responding to questions from the press on the matter of Lalu Yadav. He said that the Yadav family’s stand saying they were framed could only convince the party’s hardcore voters he didn’t want to comment further on the matter. If the demand is indeed legitimate and relevant, then what is the harm with moving it actively forward? Which one will win TDP’s all-out defiance or JDU’s passive demand?