The Congress is likely to work for a package deal with RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav for sharing Assembly seats in both Bihar and Jharkhand, sources disclosed here today. The move is aimed at strengthening the party’s bargaining capacity in Bihar by linking every single concession in Jharkhand to a reciprocal gesture by the RJD in the neighbouring state. The high command has set up an informal group of three senior leaders — Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh, central party in-charge of Bihar Harikesh Bahadur and Makhan Lal Fotedar — for discussing seat adjustments with Laloo. Sources in the Congress have ruled out any adherence to the formula mooted by Laloo that both parties get the seats won by them in the last polls, besides those where their candidates came second after NDA nominees. The formula works to Laloo’s advantage, leaving Congress with just 26 of the 243 seats in Bihar and 28 of the total 81 in Jharkhand. Laloo is able to stake his claim on 19 seats in Jharkhand. In 2000, the RJD won nine seats in the areas which fall in Jharkhand. Besides, its nominees came second in 10 other constituencies. The Congress is looking for some 60 seats under a seat-sharing deal in Bihar. If the party fails to get as many, it may opt for friendly contests in some to project the image of a big party. The sources said the scene in Jharkhand was completely different. The Congress, after winning six of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, was in a dominant position. To consolidate this gain, the Congress was preparing to contest in at least half of the seats. The sources ruled out the possibility of the party conceding chief ministership to JMM leader Shibu Soren, leave aside projecting him as the leader in the polls. ‘‘We would rather have our own man at the top slot,’’ the sources said.
