Amid the routine speculations about the seat sharing in the NDA, the JD(U) is hopeful that it could be finalised in the first fortnight of September. In anticipation that parties would reach a consensus by that time, the ruling party has called the State working committee meeting on September 16.
Bihar JD(U) chief Bashistha Narayan Singh said the seat sharing talks could have been finalised but because of the demise of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee it has been delayed. “I am quite hopeful that by the second week of next month things will become clear. The top leaders of BJP and JD(U) have few rounds of positive talks,” Singh told PNS on Tuesday.
Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar had met Amit Shah twice on July 12 last when the BJP president came here. It was speculated that the two leaders might have discussed the seat sharing formula. Nitish had later asserted that seat sharing would be finalised in 4-5 weeks.
Singh said he hoped that now the top leaders of the two parties as well the leaders of other allies might have held talks and reached over some formula. Refusing to say how many seats his party wanted to contest lok Sabha polls and what formula JD(U) leaders had pushed, Singh said the talks had been very constructive and positive and whatever be the formula it would be acceptable to all. “Such talks are not held in media
He also declined to comment on the statement of RlSP leader and Union Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha on his recipe of kheer which was loaded with political flavour and said it was unnecessary to react on some comment. “Electoral talks are held with some principles, approach and strategy in the backdrop of ground realities,” he quipped. NDA will remain intact and fight jointly, he added.
The BJP leaders here are however, tight lipped and pleaded that decision of seats sharing would be held on top level with the involvement of the leaders of all allies. One senior functionary of the party said, “The formula is almost final and would be declared in presence of the senior leaders of all NDA partners.