The maiden joint meeting of the NDA over the ticklish issue of seat sharing for the Bihar Assembly polls remained inconclusive on Monday. The alliance partners decided to carry out more rounds of discussions slated to work out a satisfactory formula for distribution of the 243 seats, a final decision for which is expected next week.
After the 90-minute meeting, chaired by BJP president Amit Shah, lok Janshakti Party (lJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan said the announcement on seat sharing is likely to be made in a week and ruled out any conflict among the allies over it. There have been reports about BJP’s allies like the Rashtriya lok Samta Party (RlSP) and the lJP being restive over the delay in seat sharing, especially when the JD (U)-RJD-Congress have already thrashed out the matter and the taken the lead on the issue.
“As far as division of seats is concerned, it will be announced in a most amicable manner soon. It was not discussed today. We talked about our campaign and NDA will win with two-thirds majority in Bihar,” he said even as the NDA camp presented an united front.
Describing the RJD-JD(U) rally in Patna Sunday y a “flop show”, Paswan said it was an “insult” for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who was made to speak before CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and RJD supremo lalu Prasad.
As about his party’s and RlSP’s demand that BJP should contest only 102 seats and leave 142 for its allies, Paswan played it down, saying it was decided that no statement on the issue will be made by various leaders and only authorised party people will speak.
RlSP’s Upendra Kushwaha, whose party has been most vocal and had even demanded that he be declared the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate, said the alliance would speak in one voice and their foremost priority was a big victory.
The meeting also decided to give a fillip to joint campaigning by NDA parties and that the campaign material of different constituents should give space to leaders of the allies.
Former Chief Minister and HAM (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi said an announcement on the seat-sharing was expected by September 6-7.
They said the allies will hold talks over it after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Bhagalpur on Tuesday.