Bjp, Samata To Fight Bihar Poll Independently

Samata Party leaders in Patna even charged that its seat adjustment talks with the BJP broke down because of the latter's intransigence.

The Samata Party had asked for seven of the 10 seats but the BJP was willing to concede four. The main point of contention was the Piro seat, which Samata wanted for its general secretary Shivanand Tiwari. The BJP was sure it could win the seat.

After the Samata Party announcing its candidates for seven seats yesterday, the possibility of a rapprochement with the BJP was bleak. But BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said he hoped the temporary setback will not be carried over to the future.

In this round, however, if the SP wants to have a contest, the BJP cannot avoid it, he said. The SP has only five assembly seats while the BJP has 42 in the Bihar Legislative Council.

Samata Party president George Fernandes spoke with senior BJP leaders yesterday and is said to have assured them that the breach in their alliance was temporary.