Bihar Opposition allies still in seat talks

Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led grand alliance has not been able to finalise the seat-sharing formula for the 2019 general elections. Sources said that a meeting is likely to be held later this week to build a consensus over the issue between partners.

RJD and Congress leaders, however, are of the opinion that former chief minister and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi’s stand on the issue is one of the reasons for the delay in building consensus among the allies.

Mr Manjhi has been maintaining that his party will not compromise on the issue of seat sharing and wants “sizeable seat share” for the Lok Sabha elections. According to HAM leaders here, “the party has a good presence in at least twenty constituencies and may perform better if given a chance”.

“Hindustani Awam Morcha is the first party to join hands with the grand alliance in Bihar. Partne-rs must sit together and analys our strength bef-ore finalising seat-sharing arrangements,” HAM spokesperson Rajesh Pandey told this newspaper.

As per the formula being discussed by grand alliance partners here, the RJD has offered eleven seats to the Congress party, four seats to the Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP and may keep 20-22 of the 40 seats for itself.

Sources said that the two left parties — CPI and CPM — may also get one seat each.