The seat-sharing talks between the JD(U) and the RJD hit a roadblock and the two allies failed to come to a decision over the list of candidates. But the leaders of both the parties are hopeful that soon some amicable solution would be figured out.
The RJD held its parliamentary board meeting under the chairmanship of Rabri Devi after which State RJD chief Ramchandra Purbe said that party chief lalu Prasad has been authorised to take a call on the selection of candidates. “He is likely to announce the list of candidates for the first phase on Thursday,” he said.
The RJD has reportedly insisted on some seats which are currently held by the JD(U). The ruling JD(U) had 118 MlAs but about 20 of them have deserted or have been expelled from the party and they have joined other parties. It has now 96 MlAs and 100 seats to contest. But the RJD has staked claim on certain seats which are held by the JD(U), including Raghopur, where Rabri Devi was defeated in 2010 and now lau’s younger son Tejaswi Yadav is keen to try his luck there. Other seats that the RJD has demanded are Kurhni, Paroo, Jehanabad, Kurtha and Nawada.
State JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh who said that after alliance the parties should be ready for some sacrifice. “If we will sacrifice some seats, the RJD should also be ready to do the same,” he said. Singh also hinted that tickets to some sitting MlAs could be denied. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a marathon meeting with RJD leaders Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Bhola Yadav and others which was also attended by Bashistha Narain Singh, Vijay Choudhary and Rajiv Ranjan Singh lalan. Singh said that discussion was held on seats and claims of the parties were also discussed threadbare. Some more rounds of talks will also be held before a final decision. Siddiqui said talks were going on positive lines. JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said that differences over sitting MlAs would shortly be resolved.
On the other hand, efforts have been intensified for the formation of a third front comprising Samajwadi Party and NCP, which were initially partners in the grand alliance but strayed away in protest. This front was announced by SP vice president Kiranmoy Nanda in presence of NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar. A three-member committee has been constituted which will talk to other parties to join the front. Sources said that these leaders would seek the approval of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Pawar to initiate talks with the senior leaders of left parties and invite them to be part of the third front.
The leaders are hopeful that smaller parties like Samras Samaj, Jana Adhikar Party and National Peoples’ Party will be part of the front. They however, ruled out the possibility of aligning with Asaduddin Owaisi’s Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen which is adamant to contest most of the seats in Seemanchal.