The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar may have sealed the deal for the upcoming State legislative council poll on 24 seats with little murmuring from Mukesh Sahani–led Vikashil Insaan Party but the Opposition mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) allies — Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal — are engaged in a spat over seats.
While the date for the Council polls is yet to be announced, they are likely to take place in late February or early March. Out of 24 seats falling vacant, 13 were held by the BJP, eight by JD(U), two by RJD and one seat by the Congress.
Recently, the NDA allies BJP and JD(U) took 12 and 11 seats respectively while leaving one seat to another ally, the Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras-led Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party. However, two other NDA allies, the Jitan Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Vikashil Insaan Party (VIP) did not get any seat. VIP chief Mukesh Sahni later, announced that his party would contest alone on all 24 seats but would not destabilize the government. Mr Sahani with four party MLAs is also Minister in the State government.
