With a day left for nominations for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress on Thursday late night announced a total of 48 candidates.
The list came after a seat-sharing arrangement was reached between the Congress and RJD, following a phone calls between RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday evening.
Bihar Congress State President Rajesh Ram and CLP Shakeel Ahmed Khan retained their Kutumba and Kadwa Assembly seat respectively. The list figures three women candidates. While 24 candidates are for the first phase, 24 are for the second phase. Remaining candidates for first phase, sources said, was likely to be announced by Friday morning.
Initially, the RJD had offered 52 seats to the Congress, while the latter insisted on at least 60 constituencies. Following the differences, talks between state-level Congress leaders and the RJD were reportedly suspended.
Sources said RJD then agreed to meet the grand old party's demand for 61 seats while the Congress gave away the claims on seats such as Kahalgaon, Narkatiyaganj and Vasaliganj, Chainpur and Bachwara. Left allies, including CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI(M), and CPI, as well as former state minister Mukesh Sahani, are expected to be accommodated in the remaining seats of the 243-member Assembly.
Congress on Wednesday night started announcing its candidates for the elections even before finalising the seat-sharing arrangement with its Mahagathbandhan allies.
