Wednesday, January 12 2005 19:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad had an hour-long meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today (Jan 12, 2005) on contentious seat-sharing for next month's Bihar and Jharkhand Assembly polls but there was no indication of any settlement between the two major parties.

"We have apprised Mrs Gandhi of the ground situation and wanted seat-sharing arrangement on certain basis, including sitting members getting seats," he told reporters after the meeting.

Prasad hinted that there could be some friendly contests in the two states but did not give any figure while replying to a question.

"They (Congress) have their own compulsions. We have our own and a way needs to be found out to accommodate everyone to the maximum possible extent," the RJD supremo said.

Laloo said that he has assured Sonia that seat-sharing issue would have no impact on the "health" of the ruling UPA (United Progressive Alliance) coalition at the Centre and no one could mislead them.

"Even if there is a deluge, it will not have any impact on the UPA coalition," he said.

To a question, he said the relations between Congress and RJD would remain intact.

Asked about the ongoing talks between the two parties to resolve the issue, Laloo said, "It is not yet final. We are working on it."

Laloo said that he would leave for Bihar only after the talks concluded.

Senior Congress leaders Arjun Singh, M L Fotedar and Ahmed Patel and RJD leader and Union Minister Premchand Gupta were present at the meeting.

Shortly before the meeting between Sonia and Laloo, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Tariq Anwar, D Raja of CPI (Communist Party of India) and Sitaram Yechury of CPM (Communist Party of India Marxist) had discussions with the Congress president.