The Narendra Modi government is readying a Rs 1 lakh crore package for Bihar, the next battleground state which BJP is keen to win in order to regain its momentum after the debacle in Delhi.
Details of the package, including many new projects driven by public sector spending, were discussed by finance minister Arun Jaitley with several ministers -including all representatives from Bihar in Modi's ministry -on Monday.
The plan is to announce a 4,000 mw ultra-mega power plant, expansion of the Indian Oil refinery at Barauni, revival of the fertilizer plant at the same location and construction of a railway bridge over Ganga in Mokamah.
While the Centre is also looking to push more rural road and highway projects, the private sector's involvement in setting up a few food parks will also be pursued so that farm produce can be processed within the state.
In addition, cash-rich public sector companies in the oil, power and mining sectors are expected to be asked to loosen their purse strings by allocating a higher chunk of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for setting up schools and toilets.
The exercise for the mega Bihar package coincides with feverish efforts by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, RJD boss Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to merge their formations into a new secular party.
The move shows their resolve to defeat BJP as well as the recognition of the new-found strength and the assessment that the saffron formation might prevail if the opponents choose to fight separately rather than as a bloc.
The people of Bihar would do well to be wary of any pre-poll promises made by the BJP. On the eve of elections in AP, they promised ‘special status’ to AP in their manifesto. Now, they conveniently choose to go back on their word.
Similarly, in Bihar, there is no guarantee that the BJP will keep its word even if it fails to come to power. But the Bihar opposition parties will fight and see to it that the BJP delivers on all promises. The same cannot be said of the TDP in AP.
