Bihar polls; JD(U), RJD to contest 100 seats each

As part of the tie-up, JD(U) and RJD would contest 100 seats each while Congress would fight in 40 seats. In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the alliance was yet to announce who would contest in the rest three seats.

Nitish Kumar told reporters that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has been with them in the recent election for Legislative Council 24 seats and they would like it to be with them in the Bihar poll. Kumar indicated the three seats would be given to Sharad Pawar's NCP if they join the combine.

In reply to a question that Samajwadi Party whose leader Mulayam Singh Yadav is heading Janata Parivar, had not got any seat, Prasad answered "he is my <g data-gr-id="70">Samdhi</g> (relative) and if need be I will accommodate him."

Kumar said the grand secular alliance would have a Common Minimum Programme and all constituents would hold <g data-gr-id="91">joint</g> campaign for the crucial state election in September-October.

"The first rally of the grand secular alliance would be held in Patna on August 30," Kumar and Lalu Prasad said.

The RJD President indicated that the decision to fight on 100 seats only was a compromise for a cause.

"<g data-gr-id="73">Inspite</g> of all difference his party has come to the conclusion that to keep the communal and fascist forces away, it has to move ahead by accommodating others," Prasad told reporters.

Congress General Secretary and former Union minister C P Joshi said his party has entered the secular alliance as a constituent because it thinks "today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the biggest threat to the country."

Asked if Congress President Sonia Gandhi or Vice President Rahul Gandhi would be present during August 30 rally or in <g data-gr-id="85">future</g> programme of the alliance, Joshi was evasive.

"These are part of <g data-gr-id="97">strategy</g> which we will let the media know through separate press conference later on," Joshi accompanied by state Congress President Ashok Choudhary said.

With secular alliance facing several doubtful questions on possibility of return of 'jungle raj' (euphemism to describe RJD's 15 year rule marked by bad law and order), Prasad volunteered to answer majority of the uncomfortable questions all the while taking potshots at BJP. 

Lalu described his party's decision to settle for only 100 seats as a "compromise for a cause". "In spite of the differences (over the number of seats) my party has come to the conclusion that to keep communal and fascist forces away it has to move ahead by <g data-gr-id="71">accomodating</g> others," he said.

Congress general secretary and former Union minister C P Joshi said his party joined the secular alliance as it considered Prime Minister Narendra Modi "the biggest threat" to the country.

The leaders also announced that the first joint rally of the alliance will be held in Patna on August <g data-gr-id="90">30</g> but there was no clarity yet on whether Congress president Sonia Gandhi or her deputy Rahul will attend.

"These are part of <g data-gr-id="105">strategy</g> which we will let the media know through a separate press conference later on," Joshi, who was accompanied by state Congress President Ashok Choudhary, told reporters.

Sonia and Rahul had avoided sharing <g data-gr-id="86">dais</g> with Lalu during the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls after the RJD boss' conviction in a fodder scam case and subsequent bar on his contesting elections.

Lalu used the opportunity to attack Prime Minister Modi and BJP over their warning of "jungle raj" returning to the state if JD(U)-RJD combine won the elections, saying "Demolition of Babri Masjid and Gujarat riots were examples of 'mangal raj' and when I gave voice to poor during RJD rule it was dubbed as 'jungle raj'." 

Responding to claims being made by political rivals that the alliance will prove short-lived, Kumar said,"BJP is trying to spread doubts about <g data-gr-id="101">us</g> but they will not succeed. We are together and remain together."