Bihar polls: BJP-Manjhi arrive at consensus on seat-sharing

Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday reached a deal over seat-sharing for the Bihar Assembly polls.

A formal announcement in this regard would be made at 1 p.m.

Shah held parleys with the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief, who was said to be extremely upset with the seat-sharing allotment, earlier this morning.

The BJP president had earlier held discussions with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha to iron out differences over some seats.

According to sources, the BJP is likely to contest on 160 seats, leaving rest for its allies.

 

Polls to the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held in five phases starting on October 12 and ending on November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.