Lok Sabha elections: Nitish, Shah finalise seat-sharing formula for NDA in Bihar; BJP, JDU to get equal number of seats

In a press conference addressed jointly by Kumar and Shah, the latter announced that both BJP and JDU will contest on equal number of seats after granting a “respectable number of seats” to the allies in the state.

Nitish Kumar and Amit Shah interact with reporters after announcing the seat sharing formula for NDA in Bihar. Image: ABP News screengrab

New Delhi: Brushing aside all speculations, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and BJP chief Amit Shah announced the seat-sharing formula among the four parties under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In a press conference addressed jointly by Kumar and Shah, the latter announced that both BJP and JDU will contest on equal number of seats after granting a “respectable number of seats” to the allies in the state. Shah said that as of now the formula for distribution has been finalized, the decision on the number of seats will be taken in the subsequent meetings. However, sources revealed that the seat-share tally has already been prepared under which of the 40 seats, BJP and JDU will contest on 17 each, while LJP will get 2 and RLSP will get 2 seats. Interacting with mediapersons, Shah confirmed that Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party  (RLSP) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will remain with the alliance in the forthcoming elections. JDU had proposed a 50-50 seat sharing formula, under which first the ally parties Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) will be allotted seats, after this BJP and JDU would share the remaining seats on a 50-50 basis. The BJP has given its nod to the formula.

It has been decided that BJP & JDU will fight on equal number of seats for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 in Bihar. Other allies will also get a respectable seat share. Numbers will be announced in a few days: BJP President Amit Shah after meeting Nitish Kumar https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/bLukqYS67Y

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) October 26, 2018

Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) will continue to remain in NDA: BJP chief Amit Shah https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/77bHRUaKNa

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) October 26, 2018

  Nitish Kumar, along with political strategist and JDU vice president Prashant Kishore and senior JDU leader Vashishtha Narayan Singh, had reached Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the seat distribution for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections the BJP chief. As per sources BJP has also agreed to leave five such seats for JDU on which it had emerged victorious in 2014 elections; however Shah did not assert this in the conference. Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar held a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at his residence. He said the meeting was to discuss about the drought-hit areas of Bihar and other developmental issues. Shah said that NDA will emerge victorious with a huge majority in the upcoming elections.