NEW DELHI, 8 October 2006 — The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-led by Sharad Pawar yesterday asked the Congress to take the initiative to put up joint United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidates for Bhagalpur and Nalanda Lok Sabha seats in Bihar that will witness by-polls on Nov. 6.
“The UPA should put up joint candidates for both the Bhagalpur and Nalanda Lok Sabha seats. Congress should take the initiative and call a meeting of UPA partners to arrive at a consensus. If this is not done it will be a free for all among UPA constituents in the state,” NCP national General Secretary Tariq Anwar told reporters here. Requesting leaders of the two major UPA allies from Bihar — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan — to forget the bitterness of the last assembly elections, Anwar stressed the need for unity among secular parties.
When his attention was drawn to reports that the Congress and CPI-M had staked claim to the Bhagalpur seat, Anwar said, “I do not appreciate it. There must be a discussion among UPA partners before a nominee is decided.” Anwar, however, found logic in the CPI-M asking for Bhagalpur, where its candidate Subodh Roy had finished second in the last polls.
