Strong Public Support Nitish Kumar’s Bihar Campaign For Special Category Status
At a recent rally in Munger district, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar galvanized popular support for his current effort to achieve the state’s special category status. The Chief Minister used the event, which marked the opening of a government hospital and medical college along with other healthcare facilities, as a platform to stress the need of special status for the state’s rapid growth, according to PTI.
Speaking to a crowd that included JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, Kumar emphasized that special status will help neglected populations as well as the economically disadvantaged members of the upper castes. Declaring he was going to start a campaign to put pressure on the Centre, Kumar asked for the audience’s approval and got a loud “yes.”
Kumar urged the guests to show their support by getting up and raising their hands in an interactive gesture. Seeing a few ladies remained seated, he encouraged them to participate in the protest, highlighting the solidarity around the suggested initiative.
Kumar has continuously advocated for special status, having cut his links with the BJP the year before and actively participated in the building of the opposition INDIA alliance. This newfound focus comes in the wake of his government’s extensive caste census, which found that more than one-third of Bihar’s population is impoverished. In response, the government announced plans to reduce poverty and instituted reservations for underprivileged socioeconomic groups, all of which are expected to cost Rs 2.5 lakh crore.
A recent event saw the state cabinet adopt a resolution, backed by a statement by the chief minister, requesting that special category status be granted by the Center. With special status, Kumar said, Bihar could accomplish its objectives considerably ahead of the state-imposed five-year timeframe. The continuous endeavors demonstrate a resolute will to tackle socio-economic obstacles and expedite advancement in Bihar.
