Patna: The BJP on Wednesday allocated 11 seats to associate partner Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) from its quota of 121 seats in Bihar assembly polls.
The seat distribution to VIP was announced at a press conference addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar unit president Sanjay Jaiswal and VIP chief Mukesh Sahni.
Jaiswal told reporters that VIP will also be provided one seat in Bihar legislative council in future. VIP, floated a couple of years ago by former Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni, was with the opposition Grand Alliance till last week.
A few days back, Sahni announced an abrupt exit from the opposition coalition in protest against "back-stabbing" by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which helms the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar.
Also Read: NDA backs Nitish Kumar in Bihar, snubs Chirag
Sahni expressed happiness over the return to the BJP-led NDA with which he had started his political innings in 2014 general election with an aim to make Narendra Modi Prime Minister of the country.
The party, which is considered to have influence among extremely backward classes (EBCs) in the state, is seen as a replacement for Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) which recently left the NDA in the state.
It is to be noted here that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had announced at a joint press conference Tuesday that JD(U) will spare some seats to Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi from its share of 122 seats and the BJP will accommodate VIP from its quota of 121 seats in the 243-member assembly.
Bihar will go to polls in three phases — October 28, November 3 and November 7. Results will be declared on November 10.
(With inputs from PTI)
