Twitter
Advertisement

Bihar: JD(U) spokesperson hints BJP to contest far lesser seats in 2019 compared to 2014

The BJP had won 31 out of 40 seats in Bihar along with its allies LJP and RLSP.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Janata Dal (United) spokesperson Ajay Alok on Sunday said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar.

He also clarified that there is no confusion in the party regarding seat sharing.

"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," Alok told ANI.

"Nitish Kumar is the face of NDA alliance in Bihar," he said after party's core committee meeting held in Patna.

There might be some trouble over his remarks given that BJP had won 22 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014, while the NDA allies LJP had 6 and RLSP won 3. JD(U), who had fought the election separately, won just 2 seats.

Earlier, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi had blamed the Cente for their poor Lok Sabha performance in Jokihat. He had said“There is outrage across the country due to increase in price of petrol & diesel. Constant rise in the price of fuel is also a reason for such poll results. Therefore, hike should be immediately rolled back.”

Jokihat seat in minority dominated Araria district of Bihar was held by JD(U) during the 2015 state elections. By-election to the assembly seat was necessitated by the resignation of sitting MLA Sarfaraz Alam, the elder brother of the RJD candidate in March this year, who went on to win the by-poll for Araria Lok Sabha seat on an RJD ticket.

However, in the wake of the poor show by the BJP in a number of bypolls recently, its allies have started voicing the need for better coordination within the NDA instead of a "big brotherly attitude" displayed by the senior coalition partner.

Ahead of a meeting of the NDA scheduled later this week, the JD(U) core committee met in Patna today and the meeting was held by party president Nitish Kumar at his residence.

The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)-led NDA is scheduled to hold a meeting in Bihar on June 7.

The JD(U) core committee met here today ahead of a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance scheduled later this week, after which a senior party leader said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar.

Kumar, also the JD(U) national president, held the core committee meeting at his residence.

JD(U) national general secretaries K C Tyagi and Pavan Varma, who arrived from New Delhi, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few other state leaders took part in the meeting.

The meeting assumes significance as the BJP-led NDA, which the JD(U) joined in August last year, is scheduled to hold a meeting in Bihar on June 7. During the NDA meeting, to be attended by Kumar, the coalition partners are likely to discuss their strategy in the state for the next Lok Sabha polls.

Emerging out of the chief minister's residence after the meeting, Varma told reporters that 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".

Varma's remark assumes significance amidst speculation in political circles here that the JD(U), which has only two Lok Sabha members, might press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its strength in the Bihar assembly where it has about 70 MLAs against nearly 50 of the BJP.

Besides the JD(U) and the BJP, the NDA in Bihar comprises Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

Asked about Kumar's renewed demand for special status to Bihar, Varma said "the party had never given up the demand. To fight for this legitimate right of the state is the JD(U)'s commitment".

He, however, declined to divulge the details of the consultations held with Kumar.

With inputs from PTI and ANI

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement