Elections
File Photo of Nitish Kumar (R) with PM Modi. Two days ago Chief Minister Nitish Kumar challenged the Prime Minister to a debate on the development of Bihar.
The debate, said the Finance Minister, had been settled by a World Bank report which has rated Bihar at number 21 among India's states for ease of doing business. The no 1 state on the list, Mr Jaitley noted, was Gujarat, where PM Modi was chief minister till he took over as PM 16 months ago.
"Nitishji says let us debate the development issue. What is there to debate? This debate is over. Gujarat is number 1 and Bihar stands at 21. The economy speaks through statistics and not through debate," Mr Jaitley said at a function in Delhi.
In Bihar, the BJP takes on an alliance led by chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is seeking a third term. The BJP will not project a candidate for chief minister and is seeking votes for Prime Minister Modi and his development agenda.
At four massive rallies, the Prime Minister has accused Nitish Kumar of failing Bihar since he broke up with the BJP two years ago. At one rally, PM Modi announced 1.25 lakh crore in central funds for Bihar's development.
Nitish Kumar has classified the PM's announcement as a "false promise." At a conclave this week, he rejected the charge that he has neglected Bihar's development and, without naming the PM, challenged him to "an open debate."
The World Bank has ranked the country's states on doing business in an effort to encourage them to cut red tape. Next month it is expected to release a ranking of nations. India ranked 142 out of 189 last year and PM Modi has set an ambitious target of a place in the top 50 by 2017.
Pawan Verma, of Mr Kumar's Janata Dal United, hit back at Mr Jaitley today saying, "He is finance minister, he needs to answer why India is on 142 rank."
