Amit Shah targets Nitish as NDA announces seat-sharing pact

Expressing confidence of forming the next government in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for making tall claims of development and said that it was possible only because the JD (U) was in alliance with his party in the state.

"As far as development in Bihar is concerned, I want to make it clear that Nitish Kumar's statistics are till the time when the BJP was with him. The Prime Minister announced a special package for Bihar but the Bihar Chief Minister did not even thank him for this," said Shah.

The BJP president also took the opportunity to remind the people of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a 'Congress-free nation'.

"The Bihar polls would be a step forward towards the Prime Minister's dream of a Congress-free nation. It's time that Bihar votes for development, for which voting for NDA is essential," said Shah.

The BJP chief announced that his party would contest on 160 seats while Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awaam Morcha (HAM) would fight on 20 seats, thereby bringing an end to the ongoing tussle over seat-sharing.

Shah further announced that the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) would contest on 40 seats and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) would fight on 23 seats.

Polls for the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held in five phases starting on October 12 and ending on November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.