Seat-talks on to finalise secular alliance: Tariq

The declaration of a "secular alliance" comprising RJD, Congress, LJP and NCP was being delayed as the process of reaching an agreement over seats in Bihar was on, senior NCP leader Tariq Anwar said today.
However, it was not a "big issue" and a final announcement would be made after end of current Parliamentary session, Anwar said on arrival from Delhi.
"During the process of forging an alliance its natural that every party wants to expand its base. But finally, a formula will be devised and seats will be allocated to each party according to that," said Anwar, whose party has staked claim for two seats.

Asked whether Congress' claims for more seats had stuck the process, he said, "It is (the) effort of every party to expand its base and there is nothing wrong if Congress is doing this."
According to reports, out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, Congress has claimed 10 seats, LJP not less than 8, NCP 2 leaving the remaining 20 for Lalu Prasad's RJD. But, RJD is in no mood to accept the claims.
Anwar, who is set to contest from his traditional Katihar seat, dismissed any possibility of NCP joining hands with BJP before or after the polls.

"In 1999, when NCP had fought election against Congress, it turned down the invitation of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is known as a liberal BJP leader, to join his government. So, where does the question of NCP going with a fascist leader like Narendra Modi arise?" he said.
On the prospect of an alternative front for which Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is making efforts, he said, "It is full of contradictions because of clashing interests of regional parties in states of their influence. Hence, there seems to be little future of such a front."
"Political polarisation will take place after the election results and then only a final picture will come out," he said, adding "politics is an art of possibility.