The demand for special status for Bihar, a long-standing issue for Janata Dal (United), was completely bypassed in the Budget for Hope 3.0 presented today by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the parliament. Another demand of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition partner, Nitish Kumar, was also ignored – a nationwide caste census. Nonetheless, Bihar got a handsome package of expressways, economic corridors, and power plants, all summing up to Rs 2,600 crore and more. And, Bihar’s chief minister seems to be happy with it.