Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Amit Shah Announces Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal; BJP, JD(U) to Contest 17 Seats Each, 6 Seats for LJP

Patna, December 23: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Sunday confirmed that BJP will fight for 17 seats, Janata Dal (United) at 17 seats and Lok Janshakti Party at 6 seats in Bihar in upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The seat-sharing arrangement was made public in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and LJP Supremo Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag Paswan. Lok Sabha Elections 2019: NDA Finalises Seat-Sharing Pact in Bihar, LJP to Contest on Six Seats.

This comes days after one of the BJP's allies- Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) led by Upendra Kushwaha- joined grand alliance of Indian National Congress (INC) and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kushwaha during a press meet said, "We are now part of the UPA. I was humiliated in NDA." Upendra Kushwaha of RLSP Joins Grand Alliance, Blow to NDA Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

After announcing seat sharing for 2019 general elections, CM Nitish Kumar said, "We are committed to development in Bihar. We are of the opinion that the Ram Mandir matter should be solved through a court decision."

This comes after Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Friday held talks with Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag Paswan over the seat-sharing arrangement in the state.

Meanwhile, in the last Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had contested for 30 assembly seats and won 22, while Lok Janata Party won six seats and lost one. In 2014, JD-U had contested on its own but performed poorly, winning just two seats.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 23, 2018 01:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).