Tussle in grand alliance over Darbhanga seat

Patna: After resolving the thorny seat sharing issue among grand alliance parties the Congress is now engaged in discussions with RJD to sort out differences persisting on few seats in Bihar. Trouble erupted on Monday when RJD leaders claimed that "the Congress party should leave their demand for some of the seats including Darbhanga".

Sources said that RJD has refused to leave Darbhanga seat for sitting MP Kirti Azad. Darbhanga is a key constituency in the entire Mithilanchal region.

According to RJD leaders, the constituency has traditionally seen a fight between RJD and BJP. In 2014, it was Kirti Azad who had defeated RJD's MP Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi by nearly 34,000 votes. "Party has already finalized Darbhanga for our senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui", RJD’s Bhai Virendra said.

Sources said that the Congress had promised Darbhanga seat to Kirti Azad before he joined the party after leaving the BJP in February this year.

"The Congress may field Kirti Azad from other states like Delhi or Jharkhand instead of Darbhanga as RJD is not willing to leave the seat", a grand alliance insider said.

Seats and candidates for first two phases have, however, been finalized among grand alliance partners but there is a tussle between Congress and RJD for at least six seats, sources said.

Besides Darbhanga, both the parties are trying to build consensus on seats like Karakat, Samastipur, Madhubani, Valmiki Nagar, Bettiah and Supaul.

As per the seat adjustment formula, RJD will contest on 20 seats and the Congress has been allotted nine seats.

Political analysts are of the view that situation may change in the grand alliance if confusion over seat allotment is not sorted out within a week's time.

Brushing aside speculations regarding differences over seat allocation, Congress party spokesperson in Patna H. K Verma told this newspaper that "the issue will be resolved by the end of this week".

While clarifying party's stand on Darbhanga seat issue he said that "announcement will be made before Friday but the Congress party also wants to field its candidate from the constituency".