JD(U)'s 1st Bihar list out as NDA irons out differences

LJP (Ram Vilas) too releases first list; BJP names remaining batch of candidates

- Arun Kumar and Vijay Swaroop

The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday released its first list of 57 candidates, its partner the Bharatiya Janata Party, two lists of 30 candidates, a third partner, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a list of 14 and the head of another partner, the Rashtriya Lok Morcha met the Union home minister and his deputy, and said he was hopeful of there being “no more difficulties” — all suggesting that issues within the alliance, so evident on Tuesday were close to being resolved.

Part of the resolution will involve seat swaps - partners swapping seats allotted to each other-as evident in the JD(U)'s first list including candidates for four seats presumably allotted to Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas).

And part of it could involve other accommodations.

On Wednesday, RLM's Upendra Kushwaha, who a day earlier said "All is not well in NDA" met Union home minister, Amit Shah, and minister of state for home, Nityanand Rai, and said he hoped "there will be no further difficulties." Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal addressed the media in Kushwaha's presence later in the evening and said all issues had been resolved and that the RLM would also be provided a seat in the legislative council elections.

"He met the home minister today and discussed campaigning and nominations. RLM will also release its list of six candidates soon and from tomorrow its candidates will file their nominations.

The NDA is united and going ahead with strong cohesion," he added.

People familiar with the matter said Kushwaha wanted the Mahua assembly seat, which had been allocated to the LJP(RV).