JD(U) demands 20 seats from BJP in Delhi

JD(U) has demanded 15-20 seats from BJP in the coming Delhi Assembly elections, saying it expects the party to strengthen the outfit in the national capital.

JD(U), a key NDA ally, has demanded 15-20 seats from BJP in the coming Delhi Assembly elections, saying it expects the saffron party to strengthen the Sharad Yadav-led outfit in the national capital as it did for the latter in Bihar.

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The JD(U) Delhi unit said it could fetch votes of Poorvanchalis (people from Bihar and eastern UP) and minorities in favour of BJP but noted that it would contest the election if pre-poll alliance did not work out.

"BJP should strengthen us here like we did to them in Bihar. They are like our equal partners there. So our demand of 15-20 seats in the capital is justified," a senior Delhi JD(U) leader said.

Though the leader claimed that the central leadership of JD(U) is in talks with BJP on seat-sharing in the capital, BJP Delhi president Harsh Vardhan told PTI that his party was "not in touch" with any party at present.

Elections in New Delhi should be fought keeping intact the coalition so as to ensure a thumping majority, the JD(U) leader said.

The JD(U) Delhi unit has already "identified" at least eight seats -- Okhla, Badalpur, Seelampur, Gandhinagar, Balli Maran, Tughlakabad, Matiamahal and Paharganj.

"We are concentrating on these constituencies as BJP cannot win these seats on its own due to various reasons," the leader claimed.