Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav is ready to offer its INDIA bloc partner Congress nine seats in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to sources.
The Congress could have an opportunity to contest Kishanganj, Katihar, Sasaram, Patna Sahib, Betia, Muzzaffarpur, Samastipur, Bhagalpur and either Madhepura or Supaul seats in the state, sources said.
However, the grand old party should thoroughly deliberate upon the proposition and ‘read the offer document carefully’ as certain ‘conditions apply’.
As the proposal and the riding conditions put forward by the former Bihar Chief Minister go, in lieu of the nine seats offered in the state, the Congress should agree to offer two seats to the RJD in neighbouring Jharkhand.
The RJD has expressed its wish to contest Chatra and Palamu seats in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-governed state.
If the Congress does not take the quid-pro-quo offer extended to them by Lalu Yadav in its purest form, the party might have to find solace with only six to seven seats in Bihar.
Apparently, the RJD has declared its candidates and distributed party tickets to them in Bihar even before a seat-sharing pact could have been reached between the alliance partners.
Interestingly, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Purnia Lok Sabha seat as the Congress wanted that seat for Pappu Yadav, but the RJD did not take much time in fielding Bheema Bharti from the constituency.
RIFT BETWEEN CONGRESS-RJD IN BIHAR
The rift between the Congress and the RJD has been widening over some time now over the latter’s “unilateral distribution” of tickets.
After the Congress registered its reservation over RJD giving a ticket to Abhay Kushwaha from Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, the RJD blamed the Congress for not sharing its preferred seats for better coordination.
Notably, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Katihar, Purnia, and Siwan are the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar where disagreements have kept the Mahagathbandhan allies from reaching a seat-sharing arrangement.
Lok Sabha elections for the 40 seats in Bihar will be held in seven phases on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1, according to the schedule released by the Election Commission. Votes will be counted on June 4.
(with inputs by Aniket Kumar)
