Bihar battle has become prestige issue for PM Modi: NCP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Friday downplayed reports of tussle over seat sharing between various political parties in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls and said that the contest has become a prestige issue for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The election in Bihar going to be very prestigious particularly for the honourable PM of this country because it is he who has jumped into the battlefield and has made it a prestige issue," Memon told ANI.

"Seat sharing has always been very contentious as every political party wants a share in an alliance and it is nothing new, it will certainly be sorted out in a few days from both sides," he added.

The Election Commission announced the dates for Bihar assembly polls on Wednesday.

The five-phase election will be held from October to November; the first phase will take place on October 12 and the final phase will be held on November 5.

Counting of votes will take place on November 8.