UPA Jharkhand seat sharing talks close to finalisation

Ranchi, Mar 15 (ANI): Allies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are close to finalising the seat sharing talks for Jharkhand for the upcoming general elections.

"The alliance has not been finalised. As far as the issue of Jharkhand is concerned, the sitting seats will be contested by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) respectively. Talks are still going on for the remaining two seats," said Suprio Bhattacharjee, Central Organisation Secretary of JMM.

"The alliance has been finalised and there is no confusion. UPA holds 12 seats in the state, and on remaining two seats of Hazaribag and Koderma, RJD have a better influence on it. Talks are going on between Lalu Prasad Yadav, Congress and JMM. We have also talked with Shibu Soren," said Manohar Yadav, spokesperson of RJD.

Jharkhand has 14 Lok Sabha constituencies and UPA won 12 seats in last elections.

The general elections to Lok Sabha are scheduled to be held between April 16 and May 13.

The first phase will be held on April 16 and the second a week later. The by-poll for the Jamtara seat, which fell vacant following the resignation of BJP MLA Vishnu Bhaiyya, will be held simultaneously in the second phase.

In the first phase, six Lok Sabha constituencies Chatra, Koderma, Khunti, Lohardaga, Palamu and Hazaribagh will go to the polls.

The electorate in the remaining eight Rajmahal, Dhanbad, Godda, Giridih, Dumka, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Singbhum will exercise their franchise on April 23. (ANI)