New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh revealed today that discussions on special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh were a key topic at an all-party meeting held before Parliament’s budget session.
In his update on X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh noted that demands for special category status were raised by different political factions during the meeting. “In today’s all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader requested special category status for Bihar. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader made a similar demand for Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by BJP ally Chandrababu Naidu, remained silent on the issue,” Ramesh stated.
He also highlighted a significant shift in political alliances, noting that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by Naveen Patnaik, has now positioned itself against the BJP. “In the meeting, the BJD leader reminded Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President JP Nadda of the BJP’s 2014 manifesto promise to grant special category status to Odisha,” Ramesh added.
The BJD’s change in stance follows a major loss to the BJP in the recent state assembly elections, resulting in a shift from its previously supportive position towards the central government.
BJP’s Response:
BJP’s Amit Malviya responded to Ramesh’s comments with criticism, questioning the propriety of live updates from such meetings. “There is a certain decorum and protocol associated with all-party meetings. It appears Jairam Ramesh was live-tweeting the proceedings. Perhaps the Congress should consider sending a more experienced representative for these discussions,” Malviya remarked.
Parliament’s Budget Session:
The budget session of Parliament is set to commence on Monday, with the Union Budget scheduled for presentation on Tuesday. During the all-party meeting, the government urged the Opposition to cooperate to ensure smooth proceedings, emphasizing that disruptions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s previous speech did not align with parliamentary traditions.
