RLSP president meets Gohil

PATNA: RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha met Congress’s Bihar incharge Shaktisinh Gohil at Sadaqat Ashram on Monday. Sources said the two discussed how to strengthen the grand alliance in view of the upcoming byelections scheduled this year and assembly elections next year.
Kushwaha is the only grand alliance leader to meet Gohil during his two-day visit to the state. However, state Congress president Madan Mohan Jha said it was a courtesy call.
Gohil had called for meeting of his senior party leaders in state to discuss the byelections in Kishanganj, Nathnagar, Belhar, Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Daraundha assembly seats and Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency. Gohil has made it clear that Congress will not compromise on Kishanganj and Samastipur seats.
Sources present in the Monday meeting said apart from Samastipur and Kishanganj, few leaders also suggested to contest Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Nathnagar seats. “We have better possibility of winning these seats than our alliance partners. In fact, we have made it clear to contest at least 100 seats in the next assembly elections. We made few mistakes in the Lok Sabha elections and had to settle on nine seats to contest. Gohil ji assured us that he will take all the party leaders into confidence before reaching any decision,” a senior Congress leader said.
Without disclosing much, Jha said, “Samastipur and Kishanganj seats belong to us. We will decide on others too.” When asked whether Congress will part ways with RJD if its demands were not fulfilled, Jha replied, “As of now, we are in alliance. But anything is possible in politics and anything can happen.”
Jha said it was also decided to relaunch the membership drive in a better way, giving some training to Congress workers on how to react in public or media on any issue.