The Hindu : New Delhi News : Nothing finalised on seat-sharing with LJP: Lalu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Nothing finalised on seat-sharing with LJP: Lalu

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: Amid speculation that an “understanding” was reached between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) on seat-sharing for the 40 Lok Sabha seats from Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad told The Hindu here on Monday that “nothing has been finalised so far”.

Before leaving for Patna to celebrate Holi, he said he had convened a party meeting on March 16 to discuss seat-sharing in the State.

Formula

The “formula” that was doing the rounds in political circles here gave 22 seats to the RJD, 12 to the LJP, five to the Congress and one to the Nationalist Congress Party.

Mr. Paswan told The Hindu, “What formula? Our formula is 16-40. We have already declared that we will contest 16 seats in an alliance. If not, then we will put up candidates in all 40 seats.” His party contested eight seats in 2004.

“First, we heard of a 22 RJD, 13 LJP and five Congress formula. Now we are hearing of a 22 RJD, 13 LJP, five Congress, one NCP formula. There is nothing authentic in this,” he added.

He said there should be a joint effort for seat-sharing: “There can be no giver and taker.”

No meeting

Mr. Paswan denied that he had met Mr. Prasad on a pre-poll alliance. The party had nominated its Bihar unit chief Pashupati Kumar Paras to reach a seat-sharing arrangement with the RJD.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi