Amid demands from allies for Cabinet berths and a larger share of seats, the BJP on Thursday initiated the process of formalising seat-sharing for the Bihar Assembly elections.
Party president Amit Shah met Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party leader Upendra Kushwaha here. In an initial success, the party got Mr. Manjhi on board to contest the elections as a partner.
After his hour-long meeting with Mr. Shah, Mr. Manjhi told journalists that he would contest the elections as “part and parcel” of the National Democratic Alliance. “We are willing to do all it takes to defeat the unholy alliance of the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal,” he said.
Mr. Manjhi, who had earlier declared that he would join a formation that made him Chief Minister, laid no such condition.
He said the BJP, being a “senior member” of the NDA, had decided not to project a chief ministerial candidate and he was fine with it. Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan said earlier that he was not in the race for Chief Minister. The BJP said it would fight the elections with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “face” and on the planks of good governance and development.
According to sources, the BJP reached a seat-sharing agreement with the LJP and the RLSP for the Bihar Legislative Council elections scheduled for June 24.
