Patna: A “grand alliance” among the JD(U), RJD and Congress has been formed to take on BJP in the bypolls for ten assembly seats in Bihar next month, a senior ruling party leader said today.
“A grand alliance among the JD(U), RJD and Congress has been clinched with the JD(U) and RJD getting four seats each, while the Congress will contest in the remaining two seats”, state unit JD(U) president Vashisth Narayan Singh told reporters.
He, however, refused to divulge the specific seats from which the respective parties would contest saying that the details would be announced later.
“I have the list with me about specific assembly seats to be contested by the JD(U), RJD and Congress in the bypoll, but I will not throw light on it as of now,” Singh said asking the mediapersons to wait for some more days for announcement in this regard.
Former chief ministers Nitish Kumar of JD(U) and Lalu Prasad of RJD will also campaign together in the assembly bypoll, Singh said.
Observing that the alliance among the JD(U), RJD and Congress was the need of the hour to take on the BJP, he thanked the leadership of all these parties for coming together to form the alliance in Bihar.
Exuding confidence that the JD(U), RJD and Congress will perform exceedingly well in the assembly bypoll, the state unit JD(U) president claimed that the BJP-led government at the Centre was fast losing appeal with the people over spiralling price rise and impact of rail fare hike.
The verdict in Uttarkhand where the Congress has won all three seats in the assembly bypoll clearly points to Modi's “waning appeal” among the masses, Singh said.
The JD(U) leader said he was confident that the Bihar electorate would give a mandate in favour of the JD(U), RJD and Congress alliance.
The state unit JD(U) president also dispelled rumours about Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad avoiding each other and said that contrary to media reports, the two senior leaders have been speaking to each other quite often in recent times.
The two will also campaign together for the assembly bypoll, Singh said.
The bypoll will be held for Chapra, Rajnagar (SC), Mohiuddinagar, Banka, Hajipur, Mohania (SC), Jale, Parbatta, Narkatiaganj and Bhagalpur assembly seats in Bihar on August 21 next of which the BJP held six seats as against three by the RJD and one by JD(U).
The BJP will contest nine assembly seats with one seat going to the LJP, party sources said.
