New Delhi: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) President Chirag Paswan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda to discuss the seat-sharing talks ahead of the Bihar elections. In the 50-minute-long meeting at Nadda's residence, the leaders discussed the existing political scenario in Bihar.
According to sources, BJP has offered 27 Vidhan Sabha seats and 2 MLC seats to LJP. But Paswan, who is in a mood to test electoral waters, wants to contest on 43 seats. Chirag, who identifies himself with slogan 'Bihar First Bihari First', wants to include his vision in the NDA's election manifesto as well. Paswan, who has been at loggerheads with JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar over various developmental issues has also toughened his stand over the seat-sharing and is gearing up to contest on 143 seats if the party does not get a 'respectable' seats in the elections.
"Papa at every party meeting and rally told us: Country first, the party later and self at the last. We will take a decision in the interest of the party. The party is like our mother and we have to strengthen it. If anyone thinks that he can suppress, reduce or erase the existence of the party, then it is not possible," Paswan had told supporters and members of the LJP.
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The LJP President had asked his party leaders to prepare for a new challenge in the upcoming elections and said that it will not compromise under any circumstance. If BJP and LJP do not agree on the seat-sharing pact, LJP may quit BJP and field candidates against JD(U) on all 143 seats.
However, the party will continue to remain in the NDA at the national level, with Ram Vilas Paswan continuing to hold his Union Minister post. LJP is a significant player in Bihar and its politics revolves around Dalits. The LJP now sees Chirag as a potential CM candidate.
The confusion seems to exist in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over seat-sharing. While the BJP had earlier said that it will fight the elections under the leadership of Janata Dal (United) leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), another NDA ally, has been demanding a larger number of seats.
BJP leader Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday said that BJP, JDU and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will fight the Bihar election together under the leadership of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Bihar has 243 Assembly seats and elections will be held in three phases--October 28, November 3, and 7--and the counting of votes will take place on November 10.
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With agency inputs
