Day after poll bugle, seat talks turn tense

Both major alliances in Bihar scrambled on Tuesday to put finishing touches on their seat-sharing arrangements for next month's elections to the 243-seat state assembly with a series of meetings even as last-minute demands by smaller allies in both camps threatened to scupper negotiations and prolong talks.

- Vijay Swaroop and Sanjeev K Jha

A day after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the two-phase polls on November 6 and 11, the focus turned to hectic parleys in both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) camps.

The last date of nomination for the first phase of 121 seats is just 10 days away.

In NDA, the bigger allies Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party appeared largely in sync-HT has reported previously that both parties are likely to contest 102 and 101 seats, respectively -but smaller allies appeared to be gearing up to jostle for more seats.

Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which had earlier settled for around 20-22 seats, was asking for at least 15 more, said a senior LJP (RV) leader, who asked not to be named. Paswan also has some channels of communication open with strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party, the leader added. "The door is always open. Options are always available in politics," said the leader.

BJP Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, state in-charge Vinod Tawde and state minister Mangal Pandey met Paswan at the latter's residence in Delhi. The details of the meeting were not immediately available.

Similarly, Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, too, raised demands to contest 15 and 10 seats, respectively.