BJP's central election committee to meet today, candidates for Bihar polls may be announced

Delhi: BJP's central election committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday and could announce names of many party candidates for at least the first few phases of Assembly elections Bihar due to be held on October 12, 16, 28, November 1 and 5.

Meanwhile, yesterday, following days of hard bargain, BJP sealed a seat sharing pact for Bihar polls with its allies under which it will contest 160 of the 243 seats, while sparing 20 for Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S), besides 40 for Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP.

Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP got 23 seats to fight in the high-stakes elections starting October 12.

Flanked by key alliance leaders like Paswan and Kushwaha besides Manjhi, BJP chief Amit Shah yesterday said an "united" NDA was on its way to securing two-thirds majority in the state against the "crumbling" alliance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress.

Presenting a united face, Shah claimed acrimony among alliance partners, especially LJP and Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (secular), was behind them and all differences sorted out.

"There is no tug of war. There is no tension. You can see their smiling faces," Shah had said, pointing to Paswan and Manjhi and sounding as much relieved as happy after finally thrashing out a seat-sharing arrangement acceptable to all the allies.

Playing hardball, Manjhi had for days refused to settle for BJP's offer of 13-15 seats.

Manjhi persistently targeted Paswan, claiming he enjoyed better clout with Dalit voters.

Shah had added that the NDA will spell out its agenda in detail in its manifesto to be brought out in the coming days.

(With PTI inputs)