Seat-sharing among NDA partners for Jharkhand polls almost final: Himanta

RANCHI — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the seat-sharing arrangement among NDA partners for the assembly elections in Jharkhand was “almost final”, and the first list of candidates would be announced within 48 hours of the declaration of the polls.

Sarma, who is one of the in charge of the BJP for the assembly elections, was speaking to the reporters after a meeting of the party’s election committee.

“Seat-sharing among NDA partners is almost final. As soon as the Election Commission declares the model code of conduct (MCC) we will issue the first list within 24 to 48 hours. We are waiting for the EC’s announcement,” he said.

As per the seat-sharing arrangement, the Sudesh Mahto-led AJSU Party will contest 9-11 seats, he said.

Also read: BJP to contest Jharkhand polls in alliance with AJSU Party, JD(U): Himanta

“The seat-sharing talks with the AJSU Party are almost final. There is some problem pertaining to one seat. We will resolve that by Tuesday,” Sarma said.

He said the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) will contest in two constitutencies, while the seat-sharing talks with LJP (Ram Vilas) will be held on Wednesday or Thursday after its chief Chirag Paswan comes back from abroad.

He said candidates for almost all the seats have been finalised, barring five or six, and the decision on those will be taken soon.

“The election committee will meet again tomorrow, followed by the party’s parliamentary board meeting,” Sarma said.

The elections to the 81-member assembly are due this year as the term of the present House will end on January 5, 2025.