Raipur, Nov 15: BJP and NCP are discussing seat adjustments for the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh next month, to avoid triangular contests, including in Marwahi from where Chief Minister Ajit Jogi is seeking a second term. NCP state president V C Shukla, his BJP counterpart Raman Singh and Union Mines Minister Ramesh Bais held deliberations on seat adjustments in the state yesterday, both the party sources told.

The talks were however inconclusive, they said.

The BJP and NCP like the ruling Congress have put up candidates in all the 90 seats, but in order to unseat the ruling party they want a pact in seats where they are strong and can also "cooperate" with each other, the sources said.

"For the seats where NCP is comparatively stronger, the party is asking BJP to withdraw its candidates but nothing has been finalised so far and in the subsequent meetings the issue would be discussed," Ramesh Bais said. "Yesterday's discussion was basically on avoiding a triangular contest in Marwahi between NCP, BJP and Congress and making it a straight fight," Shukla told.

BJP wants leader of opposition Nand Kumar Sai to be the joint candidate against Jogi but NCP candidate Hemwanti Porte has her personal reason to fight from there considering that her late husband Bhanwar Singh Porte had represented that seat four times earlier, NCP sources said. Bureau Report