'20 damage in mind, Nitish tit-for-tat for Chirag

UNION minister Chirag Pas-wan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), an ally of the NDA, has suffered a jolt in the first phase of assembly elections, apparently due to its strained relationship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

- RAMASHANKAR @Patna

In the first phase of election held on November 6, the LJP (RV) has fielded its candidates in eight of the 29 seats it was allotted as part of seat-sharing deal among NDA allies. The cooperation that LJP(RV) expected from its allies lacked, according Chirag’s party.

The BJP, JD(U), LJP(RV), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are constituents of the ruling NDA. Out of the 243 seats, the BJP and JD(U) are contesting 101 seats each, LJP(RV) 29, HAM and RLM six seats each. In the first phase, the JD(U) is contesting 57 seats, BJP 48, LJP(RV) eight and RLM two seats.