Bihar Grand Alliance deadlock over seats continues

The deadlock over seat sharing in the "Mahagathbandhan" (Grand Alliance) in Bihar continued on Monday and it is unlikely to resolve in the next 24 hours.

After camping in New Delhi for four days to finalise the seat-sharing formula, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is likely to return to Patna on Monday night without reaching any final decision on the matter.

Speculations are rife that the deadlock is caused by the RJD and the Congress as both the parties are not ready to compromise on the number of seats.

"The RJD and the Congress are still busy bargaining over contesting more seats. As a result, the seat-sharing deal has not been finalised, so far," a senior RJD leader said.

The Grand Alliance comprises old allies like the Congress and the RJD, and new entrants such as the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) and the Vikashsheel Insaan Party (VIP).

RLSP chief and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, on return from New Delhi on Monday told the media the seat-sharing deal would be finalised soon.

Leaders of two other Grand Alliance partners, HAM chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and VIP President Mukesh Sahani, have also returned to Patna from Delhi. They were invited to the national capital last week to finalise the formula.

According to the Congress leaders, talks were still on between the Grand Alliance allies over seats.

Three days back, Bihar Congress Campaign Committee Chairman Akhilesh Prasad Singh had announced that the party would contest 11 of the 40 seats in Bihar. He also claimed the Grand Alliance had worked out seat sharing and a formal announcement would be made soon. But nothing has happened so far.

--IANS

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