Patna: The simmering tension over seat-sharing between NDA allies JD (U) and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections resurfaced on Sunday when some JD (U) leaders looked eager for an early decision on the issue.
A JD (U) source said the party wanted the BJP to consider the performance of 2015 assembly elections while taking decisions on seat-sharing for 2019 general elections.
The JD (U) had emerged as a second largest party with 71 seats during 2015 assembly elections.
JD (U) insiders claim that the party is likely to include the issue of seat-sharing in its agenda for the forthcoming national executive meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 8.
However, the BJP reacted strongly on the issue and called JD (U)’s demand as “unrealistic” and a tactic to put the BJP and other NDA allies under pressure ahead of the general elections.
BJP MLA Nitin Navin told this newspaper that the decision will be taken at an appropriate time “but by making such demands, the JD (U) is only trying to put pressure on its allies in Bihar. JD (U) benefited in 2015 by contesting the assembly elections in alliance with Lalu Yadav’s RJD.”
BJP leaders claim the distribution of seats for 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be done on the basis of fresh formula and 2014 performance is likely to be considered. The BJP had won 22 out of 30 seats it contested in the polls while LJP of Ram Vilas Paswan won six and the RLSP three seats. The JD (U) which had contested separately in 2014 Lok Sabha elections was reduced to winning just two out of 40 seats. The party returned to NDA fold in 2017 and has been eyeing a larger share of seats in Bihar.
