From Flood Relief to Special Assistance- Modi Govt Floods Key Ally Nitish Kumar’s Bihar and Chandrababu Naidu’s Andhra Pradesh with Budget 2024 Proposals

While the two key allies- TDP and JD(U) might have missed major portfolios in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet 3.0, but both Chandrababu Naidu’s Andhra Pradesh and Nitish Kumar’s Bihar have found substantial mention for proposed benefits from Budget 2024, announced on Tuesday. Both TDP and JD(U) were crucial in the formation of the NDA government at the centre, allowing Narendra Modi to become the prime minister for the third consecutive time.

Key Announcements for Bihar

Budget of Rs 2600 crore proposed for roads and expressways

- Develop expressways connecting Patna and Purnea; Buxar and Bhagalpur
- Expressways connecting Buxar and Bhagalpur
- Expressways connecting Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga

Additionally, the budget has proposed a two-lane bridge over the river Ganga in Buxar

Temple corridors at Gaya and Rajgir to promote Spiritual tourism.

- Develop the Jain Temple Complex in Rajgir
- Comprehensive development of temple corridors at Mahabodhi in Bodhgaya & Vishnupath temple in Gaya, in the lines of Kashi Viswanath
- Jain temple complex
- Revive Nalanda University & tourism in Nalanda


A 2,400 MW power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur at the cost of Rs 21400 crore.

New airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure will be constructed in Bihar, announced Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

External financial assistance from multi-lateral development banks will be expedited, to be facilitated by the Union government

Rs 11,500 crore proposed for relief and redevelopment works related to floods.

Andhra Pradesh-

Similarly, like Bihar, the Budget proposed handsomely for Andhra Pradesh, another state that like Bihar that had been demanding either Special Category Status or special financial assistance. Chandrababu Naidu became the Chief Minister, yet again, after the 2024 assembly elections. TDP in alliance with BJP had swept both the State Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The Union budget announced special financial assistance for the state.

“Recognising the state’s need for capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multi-lateral development agencies. In the current financial year, Rs 15000 crore will be arranged with additional amounts in future years. Our govt is fully committed to financing and early completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project”, proposed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget 2024.

Under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, funds will be provided for essential infrastructure in order to promote industrial development in the state

Grants for backward regions of Andhra Pradesh including north coastal Andhra proposed.
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This came a day after the Central government had ruled out the possibility of Special Category Status to Bihar, a longstanding demand of Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister, with or without being in the folds of the NDA. The Special Category Status ensures special financial assistance through central funds and schemes to backward states for development work and expedite their growth. LJP RV, another ally of BJP from Bihar had echoed similar demands like JD(U) but Chirag Paswan, a union minister had expressed hope for a special financial package if not a special status. The proposals of special financial assistance and funds for development work for both Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, come in the backdrop of their alliance with BJP, crucial for the Modi government to last at the centre. BJP on its own have won 240 seats, much below the majority mark of 272. While JD(U) had 12 seats, TDP won 16 and their cumulative 28 make the biggest contribution to NDA’s strength of 293 seats.​