BJP gets Jitan Ram Manjhi onboard

In a latest development, BJP and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi were learnt to have clinched a seat sharing agreement for the Bihar assembly polls with a HAM(S) leader claiming the saffron party has agreed to allot about 20 seats to it. A seat sharing agreement was said to have been reached at a meeting BJP's incharge for Bihar assembly elections and Union minister Ananth Kumar and party general secretary incharge of the state Bhupendra Yadav had with Hindustani Avam Morcha (secular) leader Manjhi at Bihar Niwas. After the late night confabulation, a HAM(S) leader claimed under the arrangement worked out at the meeting the party would get to field about 20 candidates, while five others would contest on BJP's symbol. Meanwhile, BJP's Central Election Committee is likely to meet on Tuesday to decide on its candidates for the elections. Manjhi and his aides held a series of meetings with BJP leaders including Kumar, Yadav and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan through the day.