Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday demanded the Centre stop all “centrally sponsored” schemes and shift to “central sector” schemes driven solely by its own funds, allowing the states to have their own schemes based on their own priorities and resources.

His suggestion — along with a demand for special category status for Bihar — at a Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi appeared to reflect the recent tensions between allies JDU and BJP.

Nitish explained that a state government was forced to contribute substantially to every centrally sponsored scheme, even those that did not meet its priorities.

So, he said, the Centre should “implement schemes of its priority under the central sector, and the state should implement schemes of its priority from its own resources”.

Speaking before other chief ministers and Union ministers, Nitish accused the Centre of using the increase in tax devolution to the states from 32 to 42 per cent, on the basis of a Finance Commission recommendation, as an alibi for a massive cut in budget allocations to the states.

He cited how the Centre had reduced its funds burden under many centrally sponsored schemes from an earlier 75 to 90 per cent to the current 60 per cent — even to 50 per cent for some schemes.

“Bihar had to spend Rs 4,500 crore in 2015-16, Rs 4,900 crore in 2016-17, Rs 15,335 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 21,396 crore in 2018-19 from its own resources on centrally sponsored schemes… thereby providing less funds to schemes of its own priority,” Nitish argued.

“A state is bound to participate in centrally sponsored schemes even if they are not a priority for the state.”

Since the funding patterns were changed during Modi’s previous tenure, Nitish’s comments count as criticism of the ally ahead of next year’s Assembly polls. A single-berth offer to the JDU in Modi’s second cabinet has triggered tensions between the parties, prompting Nitish to do a tit-for-tat in Bihar.

Nitish’s demand to stop centrally sponsored schemes is expected to find an echo among some of the poorer states.He also demanded a special category status for Bihar, which will “enhance the central share of the centrally sponsored schemes” and ensure higher GST reimbursement, “which will encourage private investment”.

Senior JDU leaders said this was one of Nitish’s main demands when he quit the NDA and joined forces with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress ahead of the 2015 Assembly polls.