New Delhi:
After a massive rally in Delhi on Sunday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will meet the PM today to press for 'special status' for his state, entitling it to loans and assistance from the Centre and tax waivers for industry set up in Bihar.
He met with Finance Minister P Chidambaram this morning to press his case.
In his speech yesterday for an audience of nearly 50,000 people, Mr Kumar did not refer once to his partner, the BJP, or to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that it leads.
(Read)He thanked the Prime Minister and Mr Chidambaram for stating that they will consider his demand for Bihar's special status. He also made it clear that his political allegiance in next year's general election will be forged by whether his request is accepted.
"Whoever empathizes with and helps backward states will come to power in Delhi" he said, warning that "if special status for Bihar is not granted now, you will have no choice but to implement it after 2014."
(Watch: Nitish Kumar addresses 'Adhikar' rally)The Congress' acknowledgement that it is considering the chief minister's request -the Finance Minister referred to it when he presented the union budget in parliament - has been interpreted as a sign of the party's wooing of Mr Kumar away from his alliance with the BJP
At his rally, Mr Kumar also stressed his model of development for Bihar as "inclusive." Many see this as his rebuttal to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has made his development of Gujarat the selling-point in recent public appearances that are seen as his bid to be named his party's candidate for prime minister for the national election next year.
Mr Kumar's relationship with Mr Modi has been fractious - he banned the Gujarat chief minister from campaigning in Bihar for state and national elections. He has also hinted strongly that he may end his partnership with the BJP in Bihar if the party selects Mr Modi as its presumptive candidate for Prime Minister.