BJP to woo Bihar voters with ‘special package’

The state BJP is aiming to counter Nitish Kumar and Lalu <g data-gr-id="28">Prasad-led</g> grand alliance by <g data-gr-id="33">Centrally-sponsored</g> special package, which is to be announced on July 25 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state.

According to sources in Bihar BJP, Centre has outlined the areas for which special package is to be sanctioned. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has asked different ministries/departments to provide a <g data-gr-id="29">blue print</g> in this regard.  “During his visit to Muzaffarpur on July 25, the Prime Minister will officially launch BJP’s campaign for the upcoming assembly polls. It is also expected that the PM will announce a special package for the state amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore on that day,” said a senior BJP leader in Bihar on the condition of not to be named. Interestingly, Modi had launched BJP’s poll campaign for Lok Sabha polls in 2014 from Muzaffarpur.

Adding further, the BJP leader said, “The areas, where the fund would be utilised, has been identified after discussing with senior party leaders as well as heads of both the alliance partners– Ramvilas Paswan and Upendra  Kushwaha, to get maximum benefit in the assembly polls.”

Apart from improving basic amenities, the special package would be used for developing infrastructure such as establishing new institutions. “The PM would announce setting up of new institutes in the state. <g data-gr-id="30">Also</g> special package would focus on electrifying villages in Bihar.”

“The package is aimed at weakening the claim of Nitish Kumar as “Vikas Purush”(the leader of development) in the state. The party leaders are aiming at showcasing the achievements of Modi government to dent the vote base of Lalu-Nitish as Modi himself had pledged to give special package to the state after being elected to power during the campaign trail for Lok Sabha elections.”

Taking a dig at BJP’s ‘package’ poll plank, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “If Modi had really wanted to help Bihar, he would have given the fund soon after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, but he didn’t do that.  And when the implementation of Model Code of Conduct is round the corner, the Centre is going to announce the special package, which is <g data-gr-id="31">just</g> eyewash.”

“Let them (BJP) <g data-gr-id="39">to adopt</g> whatever strategy they want to, but in any way it’s not going to help them. It’s the Nitish Kumar who is daring to ask people personally during Har Ghar Dastak  programme whether his government has worked in their favour or not, which no other party can even think of,” Kumar added.  Meanwhile,  BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha said leaders from allies, like Ramvilas Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, should be considered being named as NDA’s CM candidate even though his party is yet to decide on this.