PATNA, January 23: The Congress-RJD alliance in Bihar seems to be a non-starter with Laloo Prasad Yadav announcing the RJD's first list of 39 candidates today. He also announced his decision to contest from Madhepura against Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav.Laloo briefed the press at the official residence of wife and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, a move which his opponents said was in violation of the Election Commission's code of conduct.Earlier, Laloo had indicated that the list would be announced only after an agreement with Congress president Sitaram Kesri. According to a late night agency report, All India Congress Committee general secretary Tariq Anwar today expressed "unhappiness" over Laloo's move. Anwar said that the Congress would have "full agreement" on some seats with the RJD while on others, the contest would be "partial".But the fact that only 15 seats have been left for allies has raised doubts about any understanding with the Congress. Most of the seats left vacant fall in the Jharkhand area of south Bihar. According to Laloo, the Congress demanded 22 seats while he offered it 12 at a meeting with Kesri. Since he has left just 15 seats for allies including the JMM(S), Chandra Shekhar's SJP and Shankersinh Vaghela's RJP, there is no room left for the Congress. The JMM(S) has already made it clear that it wants not less than 8 seats.Interestingly, the RJD has left Katihar constituency - Anwar won from here - open. According to sources, the RJD has left it for Anwar as the party will prefer to extend support to candidates close to Kesri. The list also reveals that Laloo has not yielded to the demands of senior RJD leaders. He refused to allot Sheohar to senior minister Ragunath Jha and left it for allies.
