NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance and Hindustan Avam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi appeared to have struck a deal over the seat sharing in poll-bound Bihar, with latter stating that “everything has been resolved.”
Mr Manjhi posed with a beaming Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Union Minister and Bihar in charge Ananth Kumar and BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav for the photo-op and exchanged sweets. With this, the marathon meetings going on over several days concluded at Mr Shah’s residence.
“Everything has been resolved,” Mr Manjhi said, coming out, declining to disclose the number of seats given to HAM. The alliance leadership is expected to announce the seat sharing formula anytime today.
Curiously enough, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leaders Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag Paswan were missing in the picture today, which sources said, left the impression that last moment issues were still being ironed out.
Earlier, in a similar enactment of scene on September 11, the Paswans, Mr Shah and Mr Kumar had exchanged sweets, posed for the photo-op and declared that the “alliance has overcome differences” — an announcement that proved dud at the end of the day with Mr Manjhi digging in his heels for a larger share.
Mr Manjhi was offered 15 seats against about 40 offered to LJP and 25 to Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP). The BJP has cornered 150 plus for itself for an election to 243 seats in Bihar assembly next month. (AGENCIES)
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