Bihar polls: Cracks in LJP over ‘quitting’ NDA as some members keen on fighting 143 seats

New Delhi: Fissures have started appearing within Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) as the party appears divided on keeping and breaking the alliance with BJP-led NDA in Bihar, ahead of Assembly elections.

An LJP MP told a news agency, “We are against quitting the NDA. We are in favour of fighting Bihar election under the banner of the NDA and I am sure the NDA will give us respect.”

According to top sources, out of 6 LJP MPs, 4 are against any decision to quit NDA and fight poll separately as this will allow the party to field more candidates.

Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted in 3 phases and counting will be done on 10th November.

All political parties of state including NDA and Mahagathbandhan are busy in finalising seat sharing formulas for state elections.

Meanwhile, LJP’s national general secretary Shahnawaz Ahmad Kaifi on Tuesday announced LJP chief Chirag Paswan as the chief ministerial candidate in upcoming assembly elections and asserted that party should contest polls on at least 143 seats in the state.

“Chirag Paswan is definitely the Chief Minister candidate of our party, there is no doubt about it. The leaders, workers in our party are of the same opinion,” Kaifi told mediapersons.

“The party members also believe that we should fight on at least 143 seats in the elections. I too would urge the party to fight on these many seats,” he added.

He further said that Chirag Paswan’s decision in this matter would be a final one and it would come shortly.

Earlier, BJP had clarified that the NDA would go in the elections under the leadership of incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Bihar has 243 Assembly seats and elections in the state are due and expected in October-November as the tenure of the current Assembly will end by last November this year. The Election Commission has not yet taken a final call on poll dates in Bihar.