BJP likely to finalise candidates in PM Modi's presence on Sunday

NEW DELHI: Amid ongoing "hard-bargaining" by allies, the central election committee (CEC) of the BJP is likely to meet in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders on Sunday to finalise party candidates for Bihar polls . Party's first list is expected after the CEC meeting .

Nominations for the first phase of polls (November 6) can be filed from Friday onwards while candidates can file nominations from Monday next week for the second phase polls (November 11).

While lead allies BJP and the JD(U) are likely to contest 101-102 each of the 243 seats, the remaining will be distributed among the three other allies with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) being the third-largest recipient.

Union minister and BJP leader from the state Nityanand Rai on Thursday held seat-sharing talks with LJP president Chirag Paswan for the Bihar assembly polls, and the two allies said that "everything is positive" between them. The assertion came amid signals from the regional party that it is "unhappy" with the quota of seats on offer for it.

Rai emerged with Paswan from the latter's residence to tell the waiting media that the "smile" on their faces tells the story. "Everything is positive," he said, adding that Paswan will share details in time.

Paswan, a Cabinet minister in the Modi govt, merely noted that Rai has spoken about things being positive and added that everything will be shared in detail later. Rai later met Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is the BJP's in-charge for Bihar assembly polls.

The two-phase elections to the 243-seat Bihar assembly are scheduled for November 6 and 11. Rai is one of the senior BJP leaders who are holding parleys with allies.