Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance on Thursday received a big jolt when the Samajwadi Party declared to contest the upcoming state Assembly elections on their own.

“Our party's parliamentary board took decision today to fight the Bihar poll on our own,” SP leader Ramgopal Yadav declared in Lucknow.

He also said that party took decision to honour feelings of the party workers in Bihar.

Earlier, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and relative of SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, had declared that SP has been given five seats to contest the Bihar poll.

“While making seat distribution the major parties in Bihar did not consider or even contacted Samajwadi Party on the issue,” Mr. Yadav said.

Mr Yadav also declared that SP could also go into Bihar poll along with other parties “but talks are in primary stage now”.

To present a united face of the grand alliance recently the SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav had come to Patna to participate in the Swabhiman rally held at Patna on August 30.

When asked about any murmuring over seat adjustment with Samajwadi Party, RJD chief Lalu Prasad had said “five seats have been given to SP and everything is fine now.”

Earlier, the Bihar unit of the Samajwadi Party had demanded at least 27 seats to contest. Later, they even had agreed to contest on 12 seats but finally they were given just five seats which apparently caused hurt and humiliation to the party leaders.

(The Hindu)