Amit Shah to meet Nitish Kumar, seat-sharing on agenda

Patna: BJP president Amit Shah is set to meet Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and discuss seat-sharing and other important issues during his Patna visit on Thursday.

BJP leaders say that “the one on one meeting between both leaders will put an end to all rumours about the future of alliance in Bihar”.

Party leaders in Patna told this newspaper that Mr Shah will meet the Bihar chief minister over breakfast at the state guesthouse but the issue of seat-sharing and poll strategies will come up for discussion during dinner.

“Amit Shah will be busy for the entire day with organisational meetings but he will have breakfast with Mr Nitish Kumar at the state guest house where he will be staying and then both the leaders will meet over dinner at CM house,” BJP state president Nityanand Rai said. The meeting was organised earlier this month after BJP and JD(U) leaders gave divergent statements on seat sharing fuelling speculations of a rift between the two parties.

Some of the earlier statements made by JD (U) also suggests that the party wants a larger share of seats in Bihar for the 2019 general elections.

However, chief minister Nitish Kumar’s statement after JD (U) national executive meeting earlier this week that “the party is yet to receive a proposal on seat sharing” has ended speculations regarding growing rift within the NDA in Bihar.

“There is no doubt that the party has benefited under Amit Shah’s leadership. His Bihar visit will be historic”. BJP state president Nityanand Rai told reporters in Patna on Wednesday.  

“Besides seat sharing both the leaders will also be discussing poll strategies during their meeting,” he added.