Prime Minister Modi announced an unprecedented poll-package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore to Bihar. At a time when states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are demanding special category status or special package, Prime Minister promise of whopping financial assistance is expected to create problems for ruling parties in these two states.
Is it fair for a leader like Modi, who is being projected as statesman of world repute, stoop to such level of announcing an electoral package with ridiculously large amount when more than half of Indian states crying for central help?
Plagued with political troubles arising out of denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is meeting Prime Minister Modi at 4 pm on August 20, 2015. Naidu sought appointment with Modi in the backdrop of growing political unrest in the state. CPI had already organized a successful bandh. YSRCP Jagan has called for another bandh on August 29 and Congress is upping the ante following its worker Muni Koti’s self-immolation in Tiruopati. So Naidu wants to extract some package to Andhra Pradesh before the commencement of Monsoon session scheduled to begin from August 31.
Modi’s announcement has raised hopes of similar package for Andhra and everybody believes that Naidu’s visit to Delhi would certainly result in a package. Failing to get such a package would be a loss of face for the TDP supremo in the face of Bihar package.
What is interesting is that what PM announced was a poll time package and the record of implementing such poll promises is very poor for all Indian political parties. Modi, when campaigning in Andhra Pradesh for 2014 election, announced in Tirupati that after the division of the state Seemandhra had become an orphan and he would come to its aide. All BJP leaders from Modi to Amit Shah, without applying mind to the implementation aspect, promised special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Nothing has come out even after 15 months after Mode made his announcement.
What Modi made in Bihar was a poll-time promise and was made with an eye on the establishment of BJP rule in the state. The question arises now is would Modi announce such a huge package to Andhra Pradesh when there are no elections around and where the BJP is not at all a force without alliance with TDP. After all, all packages are electorally motivated. They are scarcely humanitarian in nature.
