'Talks going positive': Chirag Paswan amid seat-sharing tussle within NDA
What's the story
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has said that the ongoing seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections are progressing positively. "The talks are going in a positive manner and are in their end stage now," he told reporters outside his residence. The Bihar Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and 11. Results will be announced on November 14.
Leadership
Emergency meeting called to discuss election strategies
Paswan has called an emergency meeting at the party's Patna office to discuss election strategies, seat distribution, and candidate selection. He said all senior leaders were present in the meeting and unanimously gave him full authority to make final decisions on seat-sharing. "A meeting has been called by the party's in-charge... In the coming days, discussions will be held regarding election strategies," he said.
Election timeline
Polling in 2 phases
Earlier reports claimed the LJP is demanding 40 of the 243 seats, but the BJP is willing to offer 25. Per India Today, Paswan has also staked claim to some of the BJP's sitting seats. He emphasized his party's 100% strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections. Apart from LJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has demanded at least 15 seats to contest. If not, HAM would not participate in the elections, he warned earlier.
Political landscape
NDA vs INDIA in Bihar
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (United), will face off against the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc. The latter is headed by Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav and includes the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, CPI, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party among others.