Patna: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today had a closed door meeting with former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi over political situation in the state and to draw strategy to win all 24 seats of Legislative Council elections scheduled next week.
The July 7 Council poll is being considered as semi-final before the Assembly elections to be held later this year.
Sushil Modi went to Manjhi's residence and the two leaders had a closed door meeting that lasted for more than one hour.
When contacted, Sushil Modi told PTI that he had gone to Manjhi's residence to congratulate him for his decision to join the NDA for the coming Bihar poll.
"We discussed current political situation in Bihar," Modi told PTI.
The BJP leader said he urged Manjhi to campaign for NDA nominees in the coming election for 24 seats of the Legislative Council from local bodies and he agreed to the proposal.
Asked if they had talks over Assembly elections also, Sushil Modi, who served as Deputy Chief Minister during NDA rule, said, "Right now we are concentrating on Legislative Council poll only."
BJP is contesting in 18 seats in the Council election slated for July 7, while ally LJP has fielded candidates in four and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) of Union minister of state Upendra Kushwaha in two.
Asked if BJP would have tie up with expelled RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who has floated Jan Adhikar Party, Sushil Modi said "No proposal to this effect has come from any other party."
"When any proposal comes in future BJP Parliamentary Board would look into it," Sushil Modi added.
During the meeting, Sushil Modi was informed that Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) workers would work to ensure victory of NDA candidates in the Council poll, Manjhi's party HAM spokesman Danish Rizwan said.
Rizwan rubbished reports in a section of the media that Sushil Modi came to appease Manjhi who they alleged was angry as the party was not given any seat in the Council poll. "Its not true. HAM is committed to ensure victory of NDA,"he said.
After three meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manjhi, former protege of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has turned his detractor now, met BJP president Amit Shah recently in Delhi and announced to join hands with NDA in Bihar poll.
