RJD not ready to give more than 8 seats to Congress in Bihar: Sources

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is not ready to give more than eight Lok Sabha seats to Congress which had already announced its candidates on 11 seats for the ensuing polls, sources said on Sunday.

The two parties in Mahagathbandhan have not yet come to a conclusion over seat sharing in Bihar.

According to the sources, if RJD gives 11 seats, they will have to give seats to their other allies in Mahagathbandhan in the same ratio. In such a case, RJD will get only 16 Lok Sabha seats.

On Saturday, Congress said it will field 11 candidates in Bihar for the ensuing elections where 40 parliamentary seats are at stake.

"The decision was taken at a meeting of Congress Election Committee. There is no meaning of sending names of more than 11 candidates as we were offered only 11 seats. Rahul Gandhi will take a final call on the names of candidates and soon he will declare the names," Congress leader Akhilesh Singh told ANI.

The grand alliance formed by the Opposition in Bihar includes the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Lok Jantrantrik Dal (LJD) and Vikas Sheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) supremo Jitan Ram Manjhi had asked for five seats from the 'Mahagathbandhan' out for his party.

Bihar will go to polls in all the seven phases on April 11, 18, 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. The results would be announced on May 23.