Mahagathbandhan seals pact in Bihar; RJD to contest 20 seats, Cong 9

Patna, March 22

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The opposition ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar on Friday announced its seat-sharing formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, half of which will be fought by Lalu Prasad's RJD and nine by the Congress.

Former JD(U) president and NDA convener Sharad Yadav will be contesting on an RJD symbol and merge his party Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) with it after the Lok Sabha polls, RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha and RJD state president Ram Chandra Purve told newsmen.

Recent entrants to the Grnad Alliance Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Mukesh Sahnis Vikasheel Insan Party (VIP) will be field their candidates on five and three seats, respectively.

Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) has been given three seats.

Leaders of all alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan, including BPCC president Madan Mohan Jha, were present at the press conference.

However, top leaders like Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Upendra Kushwaha, Sharad Yadav and Jitan Ram Manjhi were conspicuous by their absence.

Candidates were also announced for the Lok Sabha seats that go to polls in the first phase, for which filing of nominations will end on March 25 and votes will be cast on April 11.

The seat-sharing announcement evoked angry outbursts at Sadaqat Ashram, the Congress headquarters in Bihar, as supporters of former Aurangabad MP Nikhil Kumar raised angry slogans in protest against the seat going to the HAM. PTI