JD(U) and BJP to contest LS polls together in Bihar

Kumar was responding to a question by journalists on the sidelines of his Janata Durbar about discordant voices in the NDA camp with both BJP and JD(U) announcing their readiness to go it alone in the next general elections slated for 2014.

He, however, declined to answer a question on BJP inviting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to attend the 'Hunkar rally' by the party in Patna next year.

Kumar had himself fuelled speculation in this regard by exhorting the people at several public meetings during his 'Adhikar Yatra' last month to vote for candidates supported by his government in all the 40 seats so that Bihar MPs could play a key role in the formation of the next government at the Centre and in the bargain ensure that his special status demand is granted.

Later, he cleared the confusion saying he meant that the 40 contestants would be both from JD(U) and BJP.

Recently, state BJP president C P Thakur had publicly said the party was geared to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seat on its own.

Several JD(U) leaders had responded by stating that their party too was prepared to so the same.