RJD corners 175 seats, Congress 51

In a statement signifying that the door has been left open for LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan in a possible post-poll pact, Laloo said he did not consider anyone untouchable, and had wanted secular forces to fight the elections on one platform.

Meanwhile, the draft common minimum programme (CMP) prepared by a team led by Congress member and former IAS officer, G L Yadav, for the RJD-led alliance, has run into trouble over differences on a proposed 5 per cent reservation in education and jobs for Muslims. Laloo today said the UPA is likely to release the CMP on September 30.

According to sources, the NCP and the CPI(M) did not share the Congress view on the reservation in the CMP. The RJD, although in support of the proposal, doubted if it will stand legal scrutiny, sources said.

Congress pointman for Bihar, Digvijay Singh, who proposed the move, is understood to have told Laloo that a similar provision made by the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, had been upheld in court.

Sources, however, said the NCP believes the move may prove counter-productive. A party leader told The Indian Express that once promised, the BJP will go to town against such a reservation offer to Muslims.

While the alliance may manage to impress Muslims with such a promise, it would by default, help the BJP consolidate its position, with Hindus in general—the upper castes in particular—possibly backing the NDA more, the source said.

The CPI(M), which technically though outside the alliance—but shares seats with it—has reservations on the idea. As a compromise, the alliance may take cover behind an ambiguous posture promising reservations to the minority community, though not in specific terms of percentage.

Muslims account for 18 per cent of the Bihar electorate, and the UPA will find itself competing for these votes with Paswan whose sole poll-plank is that of a Muslim CM.

The RJD, sources said, registered its opposition to the draft CMP cover design depicting Laloo, Rabri Devi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar dwarfed alongside a photograph of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress election committee has cleared the names of bulk of the candidates. One of the 10 sitting MLAs, Ashok Chaudhry, is set to be denied ticket owing to his alleged involvement in the murder of former Congress MP Ragho Singh. Former Bihar unit chief Ram Jatan Sinha, Laloo’s arch rival, is unlikely to get a party ticket either.