Hinting at an alliance with RJD for Assembly bypolls in 10 seats of Bihar next month, JD(U) today said decision in this regard would be taken at the leadership level of the two parties. Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, however, said the ruling party may decide on the issue on Sunday itself.
"It is true that talks about an alliance between JD(U) and RJD have been generating a buzz of late, but it has to be decided at the leadership level of the two parties and not through the media or discussion in public," state unit JD(U) president Bashistha Narayan Singh said. On asked whether it was true that RJD was demanding six out of the 10 poll-bound Assembly seats, he said the leadership of the two parties have to sit together and work out the alliance first. "Seat-sharing formula can be worked out later," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said he will not say on his own about the likelihood of an alliance between RJD and JD(U) as the decision in this regard has to be taken by the party leadership. A crucial meeting of the party will be held this evening during which the decision on alliance with RJD may be taken, Manjhi said. The speculation about the likelihood of an alliance between the two parties gained currency ever since the former supported the Jitan Ram Manjhi government on the floor of House on May 20 last.
"The ground reality on each poll-bound Assembly seat has to be taken into account before working out seat-sharing mechanism between the two parties," the state unit president of the JD(U) said. However, if the two parties decide to clinch an alliance, seat sharing will not be a problem at all, Singh said pointing out that every party has the right to stake claim on the number of seats it wants to contest.
Describing the bypolls as a "litmus test", he said the outcome will expose BJP's "tall claims" about sweeping the Assembly polls due next year. "Vidhan Sabha polls are very different from General elections," the state unit JD(U) president said without elaborating. He exuded confidence that JD(U) will come out with a thumping majority in the Assembly bypolls, while the BJP will be thoroughly exposed.
The bypolls will be held on August 21 in 10 Assembly seats -- Narkatiaganj, Rajnagar, Jale, Chapra, Hajipur, Mohiuddinnagar, Parbatta, Bhagalpur, Banka and Mohania -- about which notification was issued by the Election Commission on Saturday. While six of the poll-bound seats were held by BJP, RJD and JD(U) had three and one seats, respectively. Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had openly sought support from RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's 22 MLAs for victory of three JD(U) candidates in Rajya Sabha bypolls last month. Kumar had gone on record saying his party will not mind forming an alliance with RJD to defeat BJP and its "communal agendas".
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