The JDU on Thursday signalled its readiness to negotiate with the Centre regarding Bihar’s development needs, particularly emphasising the demand for “special category status” and a “special package” for the state.

The party also announced its intention to contest the Jharkhand Assembly polls later this year.

The JDU had passed a resolution for special category status and a special package for Bihar at its national executive on June 29 in Delhi.

Addressing reporters, newly appointed JDU executive president and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Jha clarified that the party is focused on securing necessary support from the NDA government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jha dismissed notions of discord within the NDA, stressing that Bihar is poised to receive substantial assistance over the next five years, potentially transforming it into a developed state.

“The NDA government is at the Centre. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has given us directions and we are working on what we need (from the Centre),” Jha said.

Refraining from a debate on whether Bihar qualifies for “special category status” or would benefit more from a “special package”, Jha iterated Modi’s “commitment to addressing Bihar’s concerns comprehensively”.

“PM Modi’s attention is on Bihar. The Centre will provide full support. Those who are waiting to use the issue (of special category status) for their benefit will not get anything,” Jha said.

Bihar’s plea for special category status is based on various factors such as economic disparity with other states, industrial setbacks post the formation of Jharkhand, recurring floods and droughts, widespread poverty and infrastructural deficiencies mainly in irrigation.

Despite the state not meeting the traditional criteria such as hilly terrain or a significant tribal population, Jha hinted at revisiting the eligibility parameters through the prism of socio-economic backwardness, poverty and low per capita income.

Jha said the NDA would sweep the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

“The NDA led in 177 of the 243 Assembly seats in Bihar in the recent Lok Sabha elections. This is a signal for 2025. The NDA, under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, will surpass its victory (figures) of the 2010 state polls in which it had won 206 seats,” Jha said.

“We will strengthen our party keeping in mind the Assembly elections,” Jha said.

Jha, however, lamented that the party could not take the “Nitish model” of development and governance to other states despite “sterling” work in Bihar. “Changing Bihar was a big challenge compared to other states and Nitish Kumar has done it. The JDU will contest the Jharkhand Assembly elections later this year. The party has a sizeable base there,” he added.