BJP chief Amit Shah, LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan, HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi and RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha at a meeting on the upcoming Bihar elections. (PTI)
NDA allies yesterday put up a united front amid vocal demands being made by some parties on their share of seats in Bihar polls but the crucial issue of seat-sharing was not discussed at their maiden joint meeting chaired by BJP president Amit Shah.
BJP fielded LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan to brief media after their over 90-minute long meeting in which the Union Minister said announcement on seat-sharing is likely to be made in a week and ruled out any conflict among the allies over it.
"As far as division of seats is concerned, it will be announced in a most amicable manner soon. It was not discussed today. We talked about our campaign and NDA will win with two-thirds majority in Bihar," he said.
Dubbing the Sunday's Swabhiman rally in Patna a "flop show", Mr Paswan said it was an "insult" for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who was made to speak before Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
Asked about his party's and RLSP demand that BJP should contest only 102 seats and leave 142 for its allies, Mr Paswan played it down and said it was decided that no statement on the issue will be made by various leaders and only authorised party people will speak.
RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha, whose party has been most vocal and had even demanded that he be declared the NDA's chief ministerial candidate, said the alliance would speak in one voice and their foremost priority was a big victory.
The meeting also decided to give a fillip to joint campaigning by NDA parties and that the campaign material of different constituents should give space to leaders of the allies.
Former Chief Minister and HAM (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi said an announcement on the seat-sharing was expected by September 6-7
They said the allies will hold talks over it after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Bhagalpur tomorrow.
Asked who would be their chief ministerial candidate, Paswan said "any A, B, C" picked by Mr Modi will be accepted to them.