The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance may announce its seat sharing arrangements for Bihar elections on Sunday.
Meanwhile, one of its alliance leaders, Jitan Ram Manjhi, has made his displeasure known that the number of seats reportedly offered to his party was unacceptable.
The spokesperson for Majnhi’s Hindustani Avam Morcha, Danish Rizwan on Saturday said that the party would not accept a single seat less than that offered to LJP.
Rizwan said that ‘We would not take seats less in number than that given to LJP,’ adding that they will wait for BJP to offer a “respectable” number of seats to HAM.
According to earlier media reports, The NDA had worked out a formula whereby BJP will contest on 157 seats, LJP on 41, RLSP on 25 and HAM on 15. Five current MLAs, who are with Manjhi, will be contest on BJP ticket.
NDA’s rival alliance in the state has already finalised its seat sharing arrangements, giving 100 seats each to JDU and RJD, while 40 to Congress.
The ongoing differences over seat distribution have prompted the NDA rivals to take a dig at both Manjhi.
Conngress spokesperson, Shakeel Ahmad said that the former Bihar chief minister had no option but to accept whatever was ‘being given to him.’
He said, “I don’t think there is any alternative left for Jitan Ram Manjhi other than to join the NDA alliance since the Janata Parivar has already selected Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate of the state and he (Manjhi) has very unfavourable relationship with him.”
JDU, Manjhi’s former party, said that while he enjoyed respect in JDU, he was now ‘having to beg for seats.
The JDU’s spokesperson KC Tyagi said, ” Jin Manjhi ko humne 140 MLAs ka neta banaaya tha wo aaj bhikshuk ki tarah BJP ke yahan dar dar ki bheekh maangte ghoom rhe hain.”
Polls to the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be held in five phases starting on October 12 and ending on November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.