New Delhi: The suspense over seat sharing between the allies of NDA partners for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls is likely to end today.
The announcement of seats is likely to be made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah after the last round of discussion with Bihar BJP core group leaders at his resident in New Delhi on Friday.
The BJP, largest constituent of the NDA, may contest 170 seats, leaving 35 seats for Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and 20-25 seats each to Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S).
The BJP high command has also been unanimous on not giving in to the demands of its allies, sensing a close fights and possibility of post-poll alliance.
According to a report in Indian Express, “The BJP succeeded in winning over RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM-S by offering them a Rajya Sabha seat each.”
The BJP is dealing with three alliance partners and does not want to “compromise with its goal of contesting” preferably 160 seats.”
While Kushwaha and Manjhi have authorised BJP national president Amit Shah to decide on seat sharing in consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ram Vilas Paswan is reportedly upset over the seat allocation to his party.
Even though Kushwaha expressed his faith in Prime Minister and BJP president, his party leaders in the state are upset with just 20 seats.
Several RLSP leaders and ticket aspirants at the party office in Patna said that Kushwaha should not accept less than 50 seats while LJP leaders wanted more than 70 seats but they also agreed alliance with BJP will boost their chances in upcoming polls in the state.
Assembly polls in Bihar will be held in 5 phases starting October and ending November 5. Results will be declared on November 8.
