NDA remains united ahead of Bihar elections: LJP

New Delhi: The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) denied reports of displeasure over the importance given to HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, and said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) remained united ahead of the Bihar assembly elections on Tuesday.

"Our cadres expressed surprise that we were not given (seats) what we had been told," Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan said.

There were reports that the Paswans were upset that they were promised 41-42 seats but given 40 instead.

Paswan was quick to underscore that the NDA "remains united" and that his party was not upset about the role assigned to another NDA partner, Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

BJP president Amit Shah announced on Monday that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would contest 160 seats, LJP 40 seats, Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) 23 seats and HAM another 20 seats.

HAM nominees would contest a few seats allotted to the BJP as well.

The five-phased polling for the 243-member assembly would be held between October 12 and November 5. The counting would take place on November 8.

(IANS)