Recording a spectacular growth rate of 11.03%, much above the standard measure of 7% to be considered exceptional growth, Bihar barely got beat by Gujarat that recorded a growth rate of 11.05% during the same period.

The report has taken the opposition leaders in Bihar and other naysayers by surprise.

"While the numbers do look good, the reality belies such growth. Millions of people are still living below the poverty line and people are still dying of hunger and cold. The government has failed to implement a number of federal schemes," said a senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader.

NDA leaders, on the other hand, attributed good governance in the last four years for Bihar's dramatic rise.

"It is ironical that despite some great news for Bihar, the opposition leaders are praying for the failure of this government," said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Taking a dig on the RJD and Lok Janshakti Party's plan to launch a statewide agitation on January 28 to protest against high prices of essential commodities in Bihar, state BJP spokesperson Vinod Narayan Jha said that Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan were shedding crocodile's tears over the rising prices.

"If Yadav and Paswan are so concerned about the high prices, they should first withdraw their support to the UPA government which is truly responsible for higher prices throughout the country," said Jha.