The BJP is making all efforts to come out early next month with a seat-sharing formula for the Bihar Assembly elections with its three allies. The RJD-JD(U)-Congress alliance had decided on the seats days ago.

Final rounds of discussions with the Lok Janshakti Party’s Ram Vilas Paswan, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party’s Upendra Kushwaha and Hindustani Awam Morcha’s (Secular) Jitan Ram Manjhi are expected when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the State to address a campaign rally in Bhagalpur on September 1.

The party believes that like in the earlier elections of 2005 and 2010, the seat sharing formula can be announced before September 7. In 2005, the seat-sharing with JD(U) was announced on September 3, while in 2010, the NDA’s formula was announced on September 6.

It will be a tough negotiation for the BJP as the three allies have staked claim for around 190 seats of the total 243. The BJP, on the other hand, has completed it rath yatras in at least 170 seats so far. The party apparently wants to contest in all these 170 seats.

A senior leader who is part of the negotiations, however, said the party will accept all reasonable demands from the allies. He said the allies are negotiating at present and a final decision will be taken after these discussions.

The BJP says the RJD-JD(U) alliance is facing trouble as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cannot be seen as the leader of the alliance. The JD(U) and RJD have taken 100 seats each and, by this, the JD(U) has accepted RJD as a bigger partner of the alliance, BJP leaders point out.

Lead position

BJP leader Bhupinder Yadav, who is in charge of Bihar, told reporters here on Thursday that Modi’s campaign is putting the BJP in a lead position.

“He (Nitish) is opposing the biggest package for Bihar for nothing but politics. This is a kind of petty politics we have not seen before... Modi’s rallies have sparked a storm for change in the state which will gather more pace after his rally in September 1 in Bhagalpur,” he said.

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