Patna: While the RJD-led grand alliance is yet to finalise the seat-sharing formula for the byelections wh-ich are scheduled to be held on October 21, the JD(U) — a key ally of the BJP — is planning to contest on four of the five Assembly seats.

Sources in the JD(U) said the party is likely to release a list of candidates on Wednesday. The seats on which the JD(U) is likely to field candidates are Simri Bakh-tiyarpur, Daraundha, Nathnagar and Belhar. The Kishanganj seat has been left for the BJP.

The decision was taken in the presence of chief minister Nitish Kumar and other senior leaders including state president Basisth Narayan Singh, national general secretary RCP Singh and Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.

The five Assembly seats going to polls on October 21 fell vacant after the leaders who represented them were elected to Lok Sabha earlier this year.

“Issues like these are settled through mutual agreement. There are many leaders who feel that vacant seats should go to the party that had won during the previous elections and I don’t see any trouble over the issue in the Bihar NDA. Candidates are being finalised and soon the party leadership will release the list,” A senior JD(U) leader told this newspaper.

The BJP leaders, however, have not reacted on JD(U) claims on the issue. Sources said that Nitish Kumar has already conveyed his demands for four seats to the BJP.