RLSP urges BJP to hold NDA meeting on seat-sharing in Bihar

The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party urged today the BJP to hold a meeting of all NDA constituents in Bihar at the earliest so that a seat-sharing formula could be arrived at well ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

The RLSP, which is headed by Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, came up with the demand in the wake of reports that the BJP has decided to contest 20 out of the 40 seats, leaving the rest for allies which also include Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP.

The reports were, however, discounted by senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

"We demand that the BJP, as the largest constituent of the NDA in Bihar, take initiative and convene a meeting of all constituents at the earliest so that the issue of seat-sharing could be resolved", RLSP national general secretary Madhaw Anand said.

He said, "The reports of the BJP having already taken a decision as to how many seats each constituent would contest lack authenticity... however, if there is any truth in these it is unfortunate on part of our senior coalition partner as the reported formula does not give due weightage to Kushwaha who has emerged as one of the tallest leaders in Bihar."