NDA partners revert to separate manifestos

After keeping its option over the chief minister’s post open in Bihar, the BJP is learnt to have decided to concede the chairs in Orissa and Haryana to its allies – Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Indian National Lok Dal respectively. However, as a matter of principle the party has decided not to project chief ministerial candidates in any of the four States.

The party has sealed a seat-sharing agreement with BJD in Orissa – with BJP contesting 70 and BJD 77 seats in the 147-member Assembly while the seat adjustments in Bihar and Haryana was yet to be finalised.

Mathur said the Haryana unit of the BJP was in constant touch with the headquarter on the issue of sharing seats with the INLD. He expressed hope that the present controversy over seat sharing with the INLD will be resolved amicably much before the date of nomination.

INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala had earlier turned down the BJP’s proposal to share the seats equally, asserting that the latter would not get more than 25 out of 90 Assembly seats. The Haryana unit of the BJP retaliated by threatening to go it alone if Chautala did not give in.

The threat may be BJP’s way of extracting a better bargain but INLD leaders too concede that a break-up of the alliance may mar their chances to return to power in Haryana. The BJP, which initially demanded 35 seats, is likely to settle for 30 seats.

The BJP, however, faces an acid test in Bihar where the Samata Party has already upped the ante by staking claim over 130 out of total 324 seats. BJP leaders are hopeful of amicably settling and not allow their principal adversary, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, take any advantage.