Why do Andhra Pradesh and Bihar deserve special economic packages?

UP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan and hilly states including northeastern region also suit some of those criteria

When Andhra Pradesh was divided in 2014, leading to the creation of Telangana, it was promised “special category” status by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of the time. Bihar wanted this status in 2000, when it was split to create Jharkhand.

The demands of the two states have gained added weight with N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) emerging as crucial allies of the new coalition government at the Centre led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Naidu is the chief minister of Andhra and Kumar of Bihar. The special-category status had earlier been accorded