The Janata Dal (United), a key constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, has demanded that the BJP finalise the seat-sharing formula for the 2019 general elections, dropping hints that it wants to retain the 2009 formula when the JD(U) had contested on more seats than the BJP.
JD(U) national general secretary Pavan Varma said amid speculation that the party might press for a seat-sharing arrangement for the parliamentary election in 2019. “Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar, that is why he is the chief minister. JD(U) is the largest constituent of the coalition,” Mr Varma said after a core committee meeting at Mr Kumar’s residence.
Ajay Alok on Sunday said that all top leaders of the alliance should sit across the table and decide on the seats, adding that JD(U) used to contest on 25 seats and BJP on 15 seats. “There is no confusion in JD(U) regarding seat sharing. We used to contest on 25 seats and BJP on 15 seats. Now more allies have joined us so all top leaders will decide about the seat sharing,” he said.
The JD(U) core committee met in Patna on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance scheduled later this week. JD(U) national general secretaries KC Tyagi and Pavan Varma who had arrived from New Delhi, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few other state leaders took part in the meeting.
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