Bihar polls: BJP to contest 160 seats, allies to fight from 83

The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to contest 160 of the 243 assembly seats in the upcoming polls, leaving 83 other seats to its three allies.

The seat-sharing formula was revealed by the party’s national vice president Renu Devi. Speaking to the media, Devi said that the BJP wanted 170 seats, but in view of its three allies, decided to contest 160 seats.  “We will not give more than 83 seats to the three allies, including Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha,” Renu said.

She added that the final seat sharing of the BJP and its allies will be announced within a week. “We will also announce the names of the candidates by September 15.”

Last month, leaders of the LJP and the RLSP had said that the BJP must contest only 102 seats, leaving the remaining 141 seats to its three allies.

Two days ago, BJP president Amit Shah held a meeting with NDA’s allies in Bihar to discuss the strategy for the upcoming state assembly polls, though the main issue of seat-sharing was not discussed. The meeting came following the demand of the LJP and the RLSP that the seat-sharing arrangement be made soon. 

The alliance of JD-U, RJD and Congress has already announced its seat sharing arrangement for the 243-member Bihar assembly.