STATE TIMES NEWS

PATNA: After days of brainstorming, away from the heat and dust of poll-bound Bihar, the ruling NDA on Sunday came out with its seat-sharing formula for the elections to the 243-member assembly, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP deciding to contest 101 constituencies each, and leaving the rest for smaller allies.

This is the first time that the two top constituents of the NDA in the state are contesting an equal number of seats.

The announcement came less than a week left for the filing of nominations for the first phase of the elections.

The JD(U), headed by Kumar, who is seeking a record fifth consecutive term in office, agreed to contest 101 seats, as many as the BJP, a former junior ally which has, over the years, especially since Prime Minister

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