New Delhi, March 16
The BJP and JD (U) today reached seat-sharing arrangement in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. Under the agreement, the BJP will contest 17 seats, while the
JD (U) 21 with decision on Muzaffarpur and Siwan yet to be taken.
The two parties, however, remained at loggerhead on seat-sharing arrangements in Karnataka, as the
JD (U) leaders demanded a larger share of seats in the state.
In Bihar, the BJP will contest two additional seats this time. Last time, it had contested 15. In the last elections, the
JD (U)-Samata Party combine had fought 25 seats.
In Jharkhand, the BJP has decided to go it alone in the coming Lok Sabha poll.
Disclosing the seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar after a “final round of discussion” between JD(U) leader George Fernandes and BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, party President M. Venkaiah Naidu said the two parties were yet to decide on the Muzaffarpur seat, represented by Jai Narain Nishad, and Siwan, he said adding that this time the BJP would field its candidate from Sheohar instead of the
JD (U).
Sources told The Tribune that a decision on Muzaffarpur had been kept pending as Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar was still undecided on recontesting from Barh constituency or return to Nalanda seat.
In the event Mr Kumar shifts to Nalanda, presently held by Defence Minister George Fernandes, the latter will have to look for an alternative seat, which could perhaps be Muzaffarpur, from where he had contested for the first time in 1977.
In the 13th Lok Sabha, Jai Narain Nishad had held the Muzaffarpur seat. Mr Nishad, who recently joined the BJP, is keen on contesting again from the seat.
Keeping this in mind, the sources said BJP leaders had during the meeting with JD(U) leaders given Mr Fernandes an option to contest any seat of his choice from Karnataka.
Outside Bihar, the
JD (U) has given up its claim on Salimpur seat in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP would field its nominee.
The BJP, on its part, decided to withdraw its candidate in Meerut (UP), whose name has already been announced in favour of the
JD (U), Mr Naidu said.
The JD (U) would also contest Ghosi and Aonla (UP), Lakshadweep, Kaliabor (Assam) and Banswara (Rajasthan) seats.
Asked whether there was any understanding between the two parties in Jharkhand, he replied in the negative.
The BJP President maintained that the two parties had not yet discussed on the issue of seat-sharing in Karnataka.
Mr Naidu replied in the negative when asked whether the party had denied tickets to former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa and senior leader in Uttar Pradesh Kalraj Mishra.
To a question, Mr Naidu said Union Minister Dilip Gandhi had resigned from the government only after seeking his consent. “He met me and told me that he would campaign for the BJP,” he said.
