As per the PTI, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar evaded a direct reply to a query as to whether he was giving up the demand for special status, and when asked if he was happy with the budget, reacted with a categorical "Haan, bhai (yes, of course).

Nitish also trained his guns at the RJD-Congress-Left combine, which had disrupted the day's proceedings over denial of special status to Bihar.

Poll

Do you think the new Metro lines have helped reduce traffic congestion in Mumbai?

Yes, significantly 33.38%

No, not really 33.38%

Unsure 33.24%

Submit

View All In Poll

"These people who are making so much of noise should remember that when they were part of the ruling dispensation at the Centre, the state never got its due. Whatever progress you can see is a result of the state government's efforts since we assumed power in 2005. So bad was the situation until then that even in a city like Patna, people feared going out of their homes after dark", alleged Nitish Kumar, the news agency reported.

Follow Union Budget 2024 LIVE Updates here

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president and Union minister Chirag Paswan said the budget's announcements for Bihar will help realise his vision of "Bihar first Bihari first". He rejected the opposition's criticism, saying the budget is overall inclusive and focuses on every section of society.

"It is of course a matter of happiness for me that Bihar has received special provisions," he told reporters, according to the PTI.

Meanwhile, another crucial BJP ally TDP also praised the budget's measures for Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu saying that it will go a long way towards building the state.

(with PTI inputs)