BJP and its regional allies discuss allocation of seats in Bihar.
The National Democratic Alliance is struggling to retain its cohesiveness while carving up the seats in Bihar. The BJP wants to contest maximum number seats so it is assured of winning at least 122 - the halfway mark in the 243-member assembly - to reduce dependence on allies.
To that end, it wants to control 165 seats. The allies, who would be left with only 78, want more.
Late on Thursday evening, the leaders of the BJP and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP met to finalise the numbers. Sources said LJP was offered 35-plus seats. But another round of meeting will be held, the sources said.
The BJP's challenge is not just devising an amicable formula, but also ending the strife between partners Mr Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, chief of Hindustan Awaam Morcha. Both are vying to position themselves as leaders of the deprived but sizable Dalit and Mahadalit sections.
Mr Paswan had recently taken a dig at Mr Manjhi - a former chief minister of JD(U) who broke away and formed his own party -- by rejecting his claim for more seats. "Manjhi's party is on trial," he had said.
Today Mr Manjhi reacted strongly to NDTV's query on the comment. "This is what the LJP feels. Since its formation, my party has emerged as the most active after the BJP."
Given the public sniping, the BJP has a lot of convincing to do. To ensure that the differences between allies don't spill out, the BJP has made them take a public stand that they will accept the decision of its chief, Amit Shah.
Amid the flurry of meetings held on Thursday - a day after the election schedule was out - was one between BJP interlocutors central minister Anant Kumar and the party's Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav, and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha.
Though Mr Kushwaha is a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, the BJP is wary of him.
His party is popular among the Keori community and the possibility of him switching loyalties to the RJD-JD(U) camp after winning a chunk of seats can't be ruled out, said party sources.