Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 12:54 AM IST

  India   All India  18 Mar 2019  NDA allies in Bihar strike deal

NDA allies in Bihar strike deal

THE ASIAN AGE. | NAYEAR AZAD
Published : Mar 18, 2019, 2:43 am IST
Updated : Mar 18, 2019, 2:43 am IST

‘Secular’ Nitish gets most of Muslim-dominated Seemanchal’s seats.

BJP state president Nityanand Rai (R) with JD (U) state President Vashisht Narayan (C) and LJP state President Pashupati Paras (L) show the candidates’ list for Lok Sabha election in Patna. 	(Photo: PTI)
 BJP state president Nityanand Rai (R) with JD (U) state President Vashisht Narayan (C) and LJP state President Pashupati Paras (L) show the candidates’ list for Lok Sabha election in Patna. (Photo: PTI)

Patna: While Rashtriya Janata Dal-led grand alliance is yet to finalise the seat-sharing formula, the three NDA constituents in Bihar — BJP, JD(U) and LJP — on Sunday announced the names of candidates for the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies for the coming general elections.

The announcement was made jointly by all National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners at the JD(U) office in Patna.

According to JD(U) state president Basisth Narayan Singh, “Seat-sharing a-mong all NDA partners has been done without any trouble and the names of candidates will be announced soon”.

As per an agreement, the JD(U) has been given most of the Seemanchal region seats where Muslims have a maximum representation. Sources said the BJP which does not have much stake in the region agreed to give most of the Seemanchal seats to the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) due to his secular image among the minorities in Bihar.

Lok Sabha constituencies where the JD(U) would be fielding candidates include Valmiki Nagar, Sitamarhi, Jhanj-harpur, Supaul, Kishan-ganj, Katihar, Purnea, Madhepura, Gopalganj, Si-wan, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Nalanda, Karakat, Jehanabad and Gaya.

The 17 seats allotted to BJP are West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Ujia-rpur, Begusarai, Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Aurang-abad, Araria and Mahar-ajganj.

The LJP would contest from Vaishali, Hajipur, Samastipur, Khagaria, Jamui and Nawada.

“Our target is to win all 40 seats this time. Nitish Kumar’s seven resolves and his vision has benefited every class in the state. We are confident that NDA will return to power in 2019”, JD(U) state president Basisth Narayan Singh said.

However, sources also claim that seat adjustments among NDA partners have resulted in a setback to several prominent faces in the BJP. Firebrand leader Giriraj Singh who had won the 2014 general elections from Nawada is likely to get a ticket from Begusarai constituency where CPI is planning to field former JNUSU presidentKanhaiya Kumar.

Shahnawaz Hussain who had lost from Bhagalpur Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 is another prominent leader whom the BJP may deny ticket this year.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha whose tense relationship with his party is no secret is also likely to be replaced by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as party’s candidate from Patna Sahib constituency. Mr Prasad is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Bihar.

Sources said that first list of candidates by three NDA partners, JD(U), BJP and LJP, are likely to be released soon.

Tags: nda partners, basisth narayan singh
Location: India, Bihar, Patna