Nitish and Nadda hold seat-sharing talks for Bihar polls

In the crucial meeting between JP Nadda and Nitish Kumar, the two leaders are understood to have discussed the key issue of seat-sharing among the alliance partners in the NDA, which also includes Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP.

Patna:Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday held a meeting with BJP national president JP Nadda at the former's residence and both the parties discussed seat-sharing for the upcoming assembly polls in the state, as per sources from Janata Dal-United (JDU). This comes in the wake of on-going political turf between NDA allies Chirag Pawan-led LJP and Nitish Kumar-led JDU.

While the Chief Minister and Lalan Singh represented JDU, JP Nadda, Sushil Modi, and Bhupendra Yadav represented BJP. In the meeting, they also held a discussion on Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan.

According to JDU sources, the party is understood to have expressed its desire to contest more seats in Bihar. On behalf of JDU, Chirag Paswan also expressed his displeasure to JP Nadda. Addressing a public event on Saturday, Nadda emphasised on Nitish Kumar being the leader of Bihar NDA even as Chirag Paswan has raised several objections to this.

READ: Several senior leaders from RJD, Congress and RLSP join JDU

According to sources, JDU discussed its new partner Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) HAM(S) party. It was agreed between the BJP and JDU that seats should be announced as soon as possible to ensure better coordination.

Bihar Assembly elections for 243 seats are due in October-November and the tenure of the current Assembly is scheduled to end on November 29. The Election Commission has not yet taken a final call on poll dates in Bihar due to the coronavirus pandemic and has sought suggestions from political parties.

Earlier, today Nadda offered prayers at the famous Patan Devi temple here. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sushil Modi said the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide and the controversy surrounding it is not an issue for the Bihar elections.

READ: NDA will win 220 seats in Bihar, to form govt under Nitish Kumar: MoS

With agency inputs