Sunday, July 10 2005 15:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Seeking to downplay differences in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in Bihar over accommodating rebel LJP MLAs of the dissolved assembly, who had recently joined the JDU (Janata Dal United), in ticket distribution, the alliance's chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar today (July 10, 2005) said the issue of seat adjustments would be resolved through "wider consultations" between the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and JDU.

"There is no difference between the two allies-- BJP and JDU of the NDA -- on the issue," Kumar told reporters in Patna.

Stating that the winnability of the candidates would be kept uppermost in mind, he said senior leaders of the two parties would sit together on a regular basis two months before the elections to look into the matter.

"We will also analyze the performance of our candidates and give emphasis on selection of candidates based on their performance during the February assembly poll", Kumar said adding both the NDA constituents also contemplated exchanging seats.

Sharp differences had cropped up in NDA, a day after rebel LJP MLAs joining the JDU with the BJP declaring that it was not prepared to spare any of the 105 seats the saffron party had contested in the last assembly elections under seat-sharing arrangements with the JDU.

"We are not prepared to part with any of the 105 seats we contested last time and have already decided the names of our nominees for some seats for which the JDU is planning to nominate former LJP MLAs who joined them", State BJP general secretary Giriraj Singh and vice president Ramdeo Yadav had said on Friday (July 8, 2005).