Nitish (Left) and Lalu recently announced alliance for the by-poll
In Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janta Dal, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Congress have worked out seat-sharing formula for by-elections scheduled to be held on August 21.
According to the understanding, JD(U) and RJD is likely to contest four of the 10 seats going to polls while Congress is expected to contest on Bhagalpur and Narkatiaganj seats. A formal announcement to this effect will be made later.
The other two major players in the state - the BJP and its ally, Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party - are yet to work out a seat-sharing formula. Political circles are, however, abuzz in Bihar that the BJP is going to contest on majority of the 10 seats and leave not more than one for the LJP.
With state elections due next year, the by-polls that are coming up are an important temperature check for parties.
Mr Kumar, who quit as chief minister in May, accepting responsibility for the party's crushing defeat in the national elections, recently confirmed that he will contest the by-elections in partnership with Mr Yadav, his one-time enemy. Mr Kumar dumped BJP last year ending the 17-year-old alliance, and paid huge price for it. BJP swept the state in the national elections.
The BJP hopes to make gains in the state polls too. BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who was Mr Kumar's deputy Chief Minister, told workers to go to the people and tell them to give pyjama in the form of mandate at the state level as they've already given kurta in the form of mandate at the Centre.