NEWS

Rediff.com » News

Sonia, Lalu discuss seat sharing
Source: PTI
January 12, 2005 14:15 IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday discussed the seat-sharing plan for next month's assembly elections in Bihar and Jharkhand, but there was no indication of any agreement between them.

"We have apprised Gandhi of the situation. We want the seat-sharing arrangement on a certain basis ... sitting members should get tickets," he said after the meeting in New Delhi.

Prasad hinted that there could be some friendly contests in the two states. "They (the Congress) have their own compulsions. We have our own and a way needs to be found out to accommodate everyone to the maximum possible extent."

Prasad said he had assured Gandhi that the seat-sharing issue would have no impact on the "health" of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the Centre.

Congress-RJD ties will remain intact, he said.

Congress leaders Arjun Singh, M L Fotedar and Ahmed Patel and RJD leader Premchand Gupta were present at the meeting.

Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
© 2024 Rediff.com