Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging off train services in Patna. (Press Trust of India)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Patna today that the Centre will sanction more than the 50,000-crore economic package he had promised Bihar, but said he would not make that announcement today. "I remember my promise and will fulfill it," he said.
Here are the latest developments:
The Prime Minister is in Bihar to power up his party's campaign for the Assembly elections due by October. He will address a mega rally in north Bihar's Muzaffarpur this afternoon. The BJP expects about 2 lakh people to attend. (Pics)
Amid speculation that PM Modi could announce a package for Bihar today, the state's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said this morning, "We're grateful that after 14 months Modiji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about his old ones?"
He reminded PM Modi, "You promised Bihar special status, the people are still waiting," and also attacked his Central policies, alleging there was no scope in them for more funds for Bihar.
PM Modi referenced his election campaign speech last year, made soon after bomb blasts at the city's Gandhi Maidan killed six. "In the middle of blasts I had promised a 50,000 crore package. After coming to power, I realised this is not enough. We need to increase it, I will announce it at an appropriate time," he said.
With Nitish Kumar on stage at the function to launch multiple projects and two trains PM Modi also said, "Because of my government's policies, in the next five years or so, Bihar is set to get 3.75 lakh crore rupees in various schemes."
The two leaders exchanged polite comments. "I share Nitish Kumar's pain, Bihar suffered because of politics," said PM Modi. Nitish Kumar welcomed the PM, but also sought to underscore the state government's contribution to the projects he inaugurated today.
In Bihar, the BJP takes on the combined might of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United and Lalu Yadav's RJD in what is billed as the most crucial election since last year's Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and its allies have also joined hands with Nitish and Lalu.
The anti-BJP coalition is projecting Nitish Kumar as its Chief Ministerial candidate. The BJP has not announced one - the face of its campaign is PM Modi in a tested strategy that has paid dividend in other state elections.
Nitish Kumar's JDU and the BJP had won the 2010 Assembly elections as allies. Months before the last year's national election, Nitish Kumar called off the alliance when it became clear that the BJP would project Mr Modi for Prime Minister.
Mr Kumar bore the brunt of the bitter break-up. The BJP had 31 of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats. The JDU could win only two. Lalu Yadav's RJD too was wiped out and the two Bihar stalwarts, rivals for decades joined hands to consolidate the anti-BJP vote.
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