Bihar Grand Alliance: Tejashwi to Host First Meet on Seat Sharing

The final agreement is likely to be deferred till the release of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

The Opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar is likely to hold its first formal deliberation on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls during a meeting on Monday at the residence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

(Photo: PTI)

The Opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar is likely to hold its first formal deliberation on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls during a meeting on Monday at the residence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The meeting is likely to be attended by all constituents of the 'Mahagathbandhan' that comprises the RJD, the Congress, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM and veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav's LJD.

Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.

Agenda of the Meeting

According to PTI sources in the Grand Alliance, the meeting will be marked by “broad discussions on the respective number of seats to be fought by each constituent, and identifying constituencies best suited for each alliance partner”.

They, however, added that a final agreement may be deferred till the release of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad serving sentences in fodder scam cases judgement on whose bail application has been reserved by the Jharkhand High Court.

Moreover, leaders of the Grand Alliance have also been stating that a public announcement about the seat-sharing arrangements will be made only after 14 January, when the inauspicious month of 'Kharmaas' comes to an end.

Meanwhile, Jitan Ram Manjhi rubbished reports that have appeared in a section of the media, claiming that he was toying with the idea of a possible return to the NDA, as he was not getting his due in the Grand Alliance.

“This is nonsense. Only on Saturday I was in Ranchi to meet Lalu Prasad. It is another thing that because of his poor health, I avoided getting into any detailed discussions on political matters.”

Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters.

In an alliance, all constituents have to be ready to make some sacrifices, the former chief minister said.

“We are not at all insistent on a particular number of seats in Lok Sabha polls, and though we maintain that we are in a good position in at least 20 out of 40 in the state, we will work for the 'Mahagathbandhan's' victory even if we end up fighting not a single seat,” Manjhi asserted.

“Jail Ke Raaste”: Chirag Paswan’s Jibe at Mahagathbandhan

Bihar's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), an ally of the BJP, took a jibe at the alliance in the state saying that the parties were trying to form the government “from jail,” NDTV reported. Paswan’s comments come in the backdrop of leaders meeting imprisoned RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in Ranchi.

"Jail ke raaste se sarkaar banana chah rahe hain (they are trying to form the government through the streets of jail)", the LJP leader said in an apparent reference to Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Lalu Yadav is currently at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) where he is being treated for various ailments.

(With inputs from PTI and NDTV)