Bihar Elections 2020: LJP's Chirag Paswan meets BJP chief JP Nadda for seat-sharing talks

Ahead of Bihar polls in October-vember, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan was seen leaving BJP president J P Nadda's residence on Thursday after allegedly holding seat-sharing talks. Former party chief Amit Shah, Bihar General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav too had met Nadda to discuss strategy and seat-sharing. With only a month left for Bihar Polls, and mination process beginning today, all eyes are set on seat-sharing deal in Bihar that has so far witnessed emergence of as many as 5 different alliances. 

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LJP-BJP hold seat-sharing talks

Bihar polls: Devendra Fadnavis appointed as BJP's election in-charge; confident of victory

LJP wants more seats than 2015

Chirag Paswan, who took over from his far, has expressed desire to contest as many as 143 seats in upcoming polls. In 2015 polls, LJP contested 42 seats but could man to win just 2 with 0.82 percent votes. On Wednesday, Chirag Paswan addressed party workers in Delhi and said: "We always say nation comes first, n party and n oneself", adding,  If anyone thinks it ( party) can be shrunk or diminish, n it's t possible. Is everyone ready for any eventuality?" On this, LJP workers cheered 'Yes'.

Meanwhile, BJP has formally appointed Fadnavis as party's in-charge of upcoming Bihar Assembly election. Assuring LJP will contest with BJP, Bhupendra Yadav assured seat-sharing talks will be concluded by Thursday. LJP is reportedly unhappy with re-entry of Jitan Ram Manjhi in NDA, while Bihar's Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey who voluntarily retired from police force,  has joined JD(U) - eyeing to contest from Buxar. NDA w faces Mahagathbandhan (RJD-Congress), Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) - JAP, ASP, SDP, and BMP,  United Democratic Secular Alliance (UDSA) - AIMIM and SJD and BSP-RLSP.

Bihar elections: HM Shah, Nadda meet on seat-sharing strategy amid hectic parleys with LJP

Political shuffle

Mahagathbandhan has suffered several jolts ahead of state polls with Congress in-charge Avinash Pande saying it is prepared to contest on all 243 seats adding it will coalesce with RJD if y reach a  'respectable' understanding with it. RJD MLA Chandrika Rai - who was a close friend of Lalu Yadav and also Tej Pratap Yadav's far-in-law, senior MLAs Faraz Fatmi, Jaiwardhan Yadav and three more MLAs quit RJD and joined ruling Nitish Kumar-led JDU.  Former Nitish aide- Sharad Yadav's LJD has stated it won't join NDA. Bihar will vote in 3 phases - October 28, vember 3, and vember 7, with results being declared on vember 10.

Bihar: LJP hints at NDA exit? Chirag Paswan tells cadre to prepare for 'any eventuality'