The seat-sharing agreement in the National Democratic Alliance, which was to have been announced on Saturday, got mired in difficulties, as the BJP’s new ally, Jiten Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha, expressed dissatisfaction with the number of seats to be allotted to the party.
“The matter is still being discussed, we hope to have an agreement by noon tomorrow [on Sunday],” Mr. Manjhi said as he exited a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar, after a second interaction on Saturday.
According to BJP sources, Mr. Manjhi is not happy with the 15 seats being allotted to his party. “He has been told that he shall be given 15 seats, plus the five MLAs who left the Janata Dal (U) to join him will be adjusted in the BJP’s quota of seats,” said a senior office-bearer of the party engaged in the negotiations.
