Apprehending revolt-like situation in their parties, the Mahagathbandhan allies tactfully withheld the list of their candidates which they were supposed to announce on Saturday. Instead they announced only the seats. The RJD and JD(U) have shared 101 seats each while 41 seats were given to Congress.
State president of JD(U) Bashistha Narain Singh and his RJD counterpart Ramchandra Purbe and Congress legislature party leader Sadanand Singh jointly released the 243 seats they have agreed to contest.
Amid the reports that many sitting MlAs of both RJD and JD(U) have been dropped, they are in rebellious mood and looking to change the parties. Satish Kumar, the sitting JD(U) MlA from Raghopur, on Saturday joined BJP in New Delhi. Kumar had defeated former CM Rabri Devi in 2010 but his seat has gone to RJD under the agreement from where RJD plans to field party supremo lalu Prasad’s younger son Tejaswi Yadav. The JD(U) has surrendered many seats it won in 2010 to RJD reportedly under the pressure of lalu who played the role of big brother in seat distribution.
With only three days left for filing nomination papers in 49 constituencies in first phase, the Maha gathbandhan ticket aspirants as well as sitting MlAs are in a quandary. However, sources said, many sitting MlAs who have been denied ticket were informed of the decision and those who have been selected were handed over symbols to file their nomination papers.
RJD MlA from Jagdishpur Bhai Birendra, who is believed to have been dropped and sitting on fast unto death in the party office has threatened self immolation if he was denied ticket.
JD(U) and RJD leaders on persistent queries refused to say when they would announce their candidates saying it was not for the media to be concerned. Sources said these parties are waiting for the candidates of the NDA before declaring their own in bid to check the possibility of the changing sides by the ticket seekers and stop a possible exodus.