Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav to host first Grand Alliance meeting at his residence today

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will host the first formal deliberation of the Opposition Grand Alliance on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections during a meeting at his residence in Patna on Monday. The meeting is likely to be attended by all constituents of the 'Mahagathbandhan' that comprises the RJD, the Congress, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM and veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav's LJD. Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.

The leaders may discuss on the respective number of seats to be fought by each constituent in meeting. Besides, they may also identify constituencies best suited for each alliance partner.

Source with the Grand Alliance told news agency PTI that a final agreement in this regard may be deferred till the release of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in fodder scam cases judgment on whose bail application has been reserved by the Jharkhand High Court.

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Leaders of the Grand Alliance, however, have been saying that a formal announcement about the seat-sharing arrangements will be made only after January 14, when the inauspicious month of 'Kharmaas' comes to an end.

Meanwhile, Jitan Ram Manjhi rubbished some reports that claimed that he might return to the NDA, as he was not getting his due in the Grand Alliance.

"This is nonsense. Only on Saturday I was in Ranchi to meet Lalu Prasad. It is another thing that because of his poor health, I avoided getting into any detailed discussions on political matters," he told reporters.

In an alliance, all constituents have to be ready to make some sacrifices, the former chief minister said.

"We are not at all insistent on a particular number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls, and though we maintain that we are in a good position in at least 20 out of 40 in the state, we will work for the 'Mahagathbandhan's' victory even if we end up fighting not a single seat," Manjhi said.

(With PTI inputs)