Bjp-Samata Ties In Bihar May Break Over Seat Sharing

Both the parties appear set to stake their claims for the Nabinagar and Barachati (SC) when the negotiations for seat adjustment start next week. Leaders of both the parties are busy collecting statistics to plead their case for these two seats.

While the Samata party has taken a formal decision to continue its electoral alliance with the BJP in a bid to take on the might of Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, the BJP is yet to disclose its final strategy. The Samata Party, at its state executive meeting on August 31, had constituted a five member committee headed by the party's state unit chief Bashist Narayan Singh to initiate dialogues with the BJP. Sources said while the BJP wanted to contest eight seats, the Samata party was in favour of leaving five seats for the BJP. The Samata party, according to available indications, was prepared to leave the Katoria, Jokihat, Paliganj, Piro and Warisnanagar (SC).

It has already announced the candidature of Braj Kishore Narayan Singh from Baikunthpur in Gopalganj district.

Samata party leaders are also toying with the idea of fielding Lovely Anand, wife of party's youth wing national president, Anand Mohan, MP, from the Rajput dominated Nabinagar constituency in Aurangabad district. The party has also staked its claim on Beslsund seat.

Sources maintained that the Samata party felt that if it did not support the BJP it would not be able to win a single seat. On the other hand, BJP leaders were under impression that the party's opposition would be enough to ensure the defeat of Samata party candidates.

All the 10 seats where by-elections will be held on October 11 have been vacated by Janata Dal MLAs, following their election to the Lok Sabha. The Jokihat seat was won by Samajwadi Party candidate, Md. Taslimuddin. He later joined the Janata Dal and won the Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat to become the Union minister of state for home, only to be unceremoniously removed.