Our way or no way: Cong,LJP join hands to corner Lalu

Congress and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday joined hands to put pressure on RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for more seats in Bihar...

Congress and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday joined hands to put pressure on RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for more seats in Bihar,telling him in no uncertain terms that the 2004 formula of seat sharing among UPA allies in the state must change.

Reacting to the demand,a visibly annoyed Lalu Prasad declared: Let them bring the formula to me and then I will decide. Any demand should be reasonable. However,sources said,the seat-sharing may be settled by Friday as Lalu is open to giving more.

While Paswan has threatened to field candidates on all the 40 seats if the RJD did not part with 16,and the Congress has demanded 15 seats,Lalu is not likely to part with more than 17 seats for the two partners 12 at the most for the LJP and five for the Congress.

Story continues below this ad

In 2004,the RJD had contested bulk of the 40 seats in the state,leaving just four and eight for the Congress and LJP respectively. This time,however,realising that the RJD is facing an uphill task on its home turf,the Congress has joined hands with Paswan to ensure that Lalu doesnt boss over seat distribution. In talks with the RJD chief today,this was conveyed in no uncertain terms.

The Congress in-charge of the screening committee for Bihar,Sushil Kumar Shinde,on Thursday held separate talks with Lalu and Paswan. Coming out from both,he repeated the demand to have a new seat-sharing formula. Paswan seconded it,indicating that he was not stuck on his 16 or 40 stand.