Patna: Dismissing speculations of a rift between JD (U) and BJP, Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday said, NDA in Bihar remains intact and all partners will contest 2019 general elections together.

On Friday while speaking to reporters in Patna Mr Paswan said, “People start floating different ideas because Nitish Kumar talks less. The fact is National Democratic Alliance is intact and all partners will contest the 2019 general elections together. We are confident that NDA will return to power”.

The Lok Janata Party chief also played down reports of differences among the Bihar allies over seat sharing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and said, “There is no trouble anywhere and all these issues will be sorted out when senior leaders will meet”.

There has been simmering unease within the NDA over issues related to seat sharing. Sources said that Nitish Kumar has been feeling sidelined after BJP leaders rejected JD (U)’s formula of finalizing seat distribution among the alliance partners on basis 2015 assembly elections performance.

Another formula which was rejected recently by the Bhartiya Janata Party was Janata Dal United’s demand to contest Lok Sabha elections on 21 seats.

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