Laloo’s RJD corners chunk of UPA seats

With the UPA alliance in Bihar virtually agreeing to keep aside a bulk of the seats for the forthcoming polls to Laloo Prasad Yadav’s R...

With the UPA alliance in Bihar virtually agreeing to keep aside a bulk of the seats for the forthcoming polls to Laloo Prasad Yadav’s RJD—at least 190 of the 243—the leaders got down today to identifying the constituencies from which each party would contest.

Sources said the exact share of Laloo’s allies—Congress, NCP and CPI(M)—would be determined once they reach an understanding over who would contest each seat. As reported in The Indian Express today, their total share would be just over 50. Congress would get up to 40 seats and the NCP and CPI(M) eight seats each.

Today, Laloo met Digvijay Singh, Sitaram Yechury and Tariq Anwar, general secretaries of Congress, CPI(M) and NCP, respectively, to work out the seat-sharing details. He said the discussions would continue late tonight, though a final announcement would be made on September 23, the day the elections are notified. He was assisted by party colleague MoS Prem Gupta, while Singh was assisted by Bihar PCC chief Sadanand Singh. The AICC general secretary said his emphasis would be on winning more seats, instead of getting a higher quota.

Singh said a draft CMP of Congress, RJD and NCP would be shortly handed to CPI(M) for consideration. The CPI(M), which is technically out of the alliance, may extend its support to the document.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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