Nitish has been seeking this small favour of special category state from Narendra Modi since 2014, the year when Modi became the prime minister. Modi could have snubbed him long back, citing the administrative decision of the UPA government. Instead he kept him waiting over years. Special Category Status (SCS) is given by the Centre to assist development of states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages. The nature of denial is not enshrined in the Constitution. It was done through an administrative notification.

If Modi really envisioned helping Nitish and Bihar, he could well have done it through an official notification. But no, he nursed revenge against Nitish for his role in formation of INDIA bloc. It is really strange how could Nitish, an astute politician, not comprehend that a huge rebuff was waiting for him with Modi and Amit Shah engaged in their moves to make him lose his political relevance in national politics.

It is notable that denial of SCS to Bihar coincided with Modi offering unprecedented access to RSS to intervene in the policy and decision-making process and also to shape the governance as it desired. Through a covert order, Modi lifted the 44 year old ban on government employees participating in RSS activities. It was a tacit move to appease RSS bosses. But at the same time, he wanted to convey the message that though the BJP lost its majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he is invincible. He is the boss.

Modi legitimising RSS activities certainly must not have gone unnoticed for Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. One cannot expect Naidu to oppose this move of Modi, as he has no socialist past but Nitish’s silence has indeed been shocking. A self styled socialist claiming to imbibe the aspirations of the poor and dalits, Nitish did not muster courage to question the audacity of Modi to completely change the basic tenet of governance and provide legitimacy to RSS to influence the process and mechanism of governance. Modi lifting the ban underscores redrawing the basic secular character of the country and ideological doctrines which were envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.

Modi went into action in 2024, on the eve of the centenary of the foundation of RSS in 1925. In the backdrop of the recent strained relations between Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat apprehensions were making round in the saffron circle that RSS may organise its own independent celebration, distancing from Modi. But now in the changed situation Modi will be the pivot. Modi loyalists staying away from the July 20 Lucknow meet was a part of the tactics of Modi not to further strain his relations with RSS and buy truce.

Before this he had offered special financial package of Rs.1,25,000 crores in Aug 2015. At that time Nitish in his letter of September 23, 2015 to Jaitley had told that the special package was nothing else but "repackaging" of money approved for ongoing schemes. The CM had sought to know from Jaitley as what would be the real shape of the package.

The latest 2024-25 budget allocation for Bihar is not for the poor and Dalits of Bihar. It is for appeasing the middle class and rich people. His finance minister announced corridor projects for Vishnupad Temple at Gaya and the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya which are cultural sites. Through this generosity he wanted to convey to the people of Bihar, look here is a prime minister who cares for you. But what is the take; these corridors will symbolise the politics of Hindutva. Finance minister confessed; “these will be “modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations”.

Nevertheless Modi could not conceal his true intentions. His development plan is not only confined to Bihar. His scheme designed as Purvodaya is for all the eastern states, Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and even Odisha where BJP has big plans for expansion. BJP has already won in Odisha assembly polls and is now running the state government. .

Undoubtedly this huge budget allocation of Rs 26000 crores would benefit Bihar. But the core beneficiaries would be the middle class, contractors, usurpers, government babus and middlemen operators. This allocation will certainly not benefit the poor, Dalits, backwards and minorities who desperately need financial succour. Questioning the effectiveness and applicability of the funds has its importance. This allotment has sparked political discourse about the nature of development Bihar needs; whether it should be a conflict between improving the quality of life for the poor and empowering them or a development aimed to promote the socio-economic interest of the rich and feudal lords.

Former Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi rightly pointed out that it would cease to ameliorate the lives of the crores of under privileged people of state. It would not address issues faced by the state, like paying the wages for labourers, improving work opportunities for the daily wage earners, mitigate unemployment among the youth, and challenges faced by farmers. It is not more than “'jhunjhuna' (kids’ toy).

Modi refusing special category state status to Bihar coincides with Amit Shah launching “operation Lotus” to finish Nitish’s JD(U). It is an open secret that both BJP top leaders nurse acute dislike for Nitish. While Nitish has been paying his obeisance to Modi, his lieutenant Amit Shah has been cutting him short. His operation is no more a covert operation. Even Nitish knows that Shah has been poaching most of the 12 Lok Sabha members with the promise to give them meaty and opulent ministries. Only on July 22, while presiding at the meeting of his MPs and senior leaders, Nitish Kumar expressed his displeasure against some of them for maintaining secret contact with Shah.

But one thing is certain, with Nitish developing some serious health problem his party colleagues have started looking for some alternate leader ahead of assembly election to be held in 2025. They nurse the feeling that Nitish for his frequent somersault has lost his public image and credibility. People no longer trust him. In the existing political scenario, Modi-Shah combine is the best bet. Sooner or later many JD(U) MPs would prefer to join BJP.

Bihar is the suffering with classical malaise of paralysis of decision making and governance. The neo middle class has emerged as a major political force by looting the government funds meant for development projects. Ironically besides some upper castes, most of the plunderers belong to the creamy section of the backward castes. Can anyone comprehend that 14 under-construction bridges would collapse within a spell of 20 days. It underlines the nature of corruption and loot let loose by the people who claim to rule and shape the destiny of Bihar under the watchful eyes of Nitish Kumar.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad was quick to attack Nitish and demanded his resignation as the chief minister. His party senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha described it as blatant dishonesty with people of Bihar :"When this government was formed with the support of 2 AB (Andhra Pradesh and Bihar), we thought that Bihar's demand would be fulfilled. But sorry to say Nitishji, you have failed. Who are you trying to fool? If Modi could change decades old decision on RSS, why not change the NDC decision? BJP and Modi want to treat Bihar as a labour supply state. They should remember that any dream of developed India cannot happen without the development of Bihar". (IPA Service)