Kushwaha asks BJP to take final call on seat-sharing for Bihar polls

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha has written a letter to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and asked the ruling party at the Centre to take a final call on seat sharing for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.

"We have written a letter to Amit Shah that the BJP should decide the seat sharing. We believe the BJP would do justice to the seat sharing keeping all the parties in the view. We will accept the decision taken by the BJP," said Kushwaha.

"It takes time when talks take place and a proper procedure has to be followed," he added when asked as to why the NDA was taking time in announcing the seat sharing for the polls.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar praised Kushwaha and said that his move has further strengthened the NDA coalition in the state.

"We are in touch with all our allies the RLSP, the LJP and HAM. The seat sharing will be very respectable. All the four parties will contest the elections together and will win this election in Bihar," he said.

The Bihar Assembly will go to polls in five phases. Voting for the first phase will be held on October 12, for second on October 16, for third on October 28, fourth on November 1 and fifth on November 5.

The counting of votes will take place on November 8.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect with the announcement of poll dates.

Bihar has a total of 243 assembly seats and 6.68 crore electorate.