Rajya Sabha poll causes cracks in BJP-JD(U) tie-up

Elections to at least 60 Rajya Sabha seats in April have led to differences in rock-solid alliances, a prime example being the BJP-JD(U) in Bihar.

Five seats from the state are falling vacant. Two of these fall in the JD(U)'s quota, one can be won free and clear by the BJP, one (Company Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta's seat) falls in the RJD quota while there will be a contest for the fifth one.

The BJP wants the JD(U) to leave its claim on at least one out of the two seats it is entitled to. Its logic being that in the previous Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP had yielded one out of the two seats it was entitled to from Bihar to the JD(U).

"That time, the JD(U) wanted to get businessman "King" Mahendra elected to the Rajya Sabha. This time we are asking the same favour, but indications from the JD(U) are not favourable," said a senior source in the party.

"The JD(U) feels it voted for our party members in the legislative council elections and has thus repaid the debt," said the source.

The matter is yet to be resolved, party sources say. What is clear, however, is that film star Shatrughan Sinha will not be the fielded from the one seat that the party can win free and clear. Sinha had angered both the BJP and the JD(U) by allegedly refusing to campaign for the alliance in the Assembly polls.

The party's candidate for this seat will in all probability be former health minister CP Thakur. In fact, the party is trying to persuade Sinha to contest from the East Delhi parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha elections since it has a sizeable population from Bihar and support from the community is crucial in the area.