Patna, Sep 6 (PTI) Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday retracted his statement about going it alone in the Bihar assembly polls if his Hindustani Awam Morcha did not get its due in the BJP-led NDA, contending that he had tried to enthuse party workers with the remarks.
Manjhi, whose speech in Delhi on Thursday, at HAM's national executive, caused a flutter in the state's political circles, broke into a wide grin when reporters approached him with queries.
"I had tried to enthuse my party workers by saying if need be, we may contest 243 seats. In any case, our efforts will be to ensure that the NDA does well in all the constituencies," the former Bihar chief minister said.
The 80-year-old leader maintained that there were "no issues within the NDA in Bihar" and expressed hope that a seat-sharing formula will be arrived at "after the vice presidential elections".
Manjhi, who is known to be not on good terms with cabinet colleague and alliance partner Chirag Paswan, frowned upon the demand for "more than 40 seats", reportedly, by the latter’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which had won all five seats contested in last year's Lok Sabha polls.
"The character and conduct of that person is well known since 2020," said Manjhi, the HAM's lone MP, referring to Paswan's revolt against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the last assembly polls, which had caused JD(U)'s tally to crash.
"Be that as it may, all NDA partners should do nothing that queers the pitch for other allies... Once a decision is taken at the top level, all should abide by it," he asserted.
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc leaders in the state attended a meeting hosted by RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, who heads the coordination committee for the opposition coalition.
Talking to reporters after the nearly three-hour meeting, AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru said "we took stock of the situation after the highly successful ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’. Things are positive".
Asked about the seat-sharing formula, he said, "Since we wish to bring on board a few more parties, other INDIA bloc partners must be willing to make sacrifices."
Currently comprising the Congress, RJD, three Left parties and former state minister Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP), the bloc is expected to include Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's JMM and the RLJP headed by Chirag Paswan's estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.
Allavaru was also asked about a reported complaint of the state Congress that it was given "challenging" seats to contest in 2020, when many allies blamed its poor strike rate (victory in only 19 seats out of 70 contested) for the failure of ‘Mahagathbandhan’ to achieve a majority.
"For every party, some seats are favourable while others may be challenging. A balance has to be struck. Hopefully, we will be able to strike a balance ahead of the assembly polls," he said in response.
State Congress president Rajesh Kumar said "we hope a seat-sharing formula will be decided as soon as possible".
"I think the seat-sharing formula will be decided by September 15. I do not want to disclose the share I expect for VIP. I have indicated the same at many of my public speeches," said Mukesh Sahni.
A former Bollywood set designer, Sahni, smiled when asked whether he would demand the deputy CM's post if the INDIA bloc won the polls.
"The one thing we are sure of is that Tejashwi Yadav will lead the charge as the chief ministerial candidate. Who would be his deputy may be decided at an appropriate time," he added.