Patna,(BiharTimes): Before dissolving their identity into the much larger Janata Parivar the Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal leadership have almost reached an agreement for 50:50 seat arrangement for the respective party for the coming Assembly election in Bihar.

Reports from New Delhi suggest that both the parties may field around 100 candidates each leaving around 43 for the Congress or other alliance partner, may be Nationalist Congress.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad held talks in the national capital recently on this issue. Reports said that each and every seat came to the discussion in the negotiations.

Earlier, the Janata Dal (United) had been insisting to contest 120 seats as it won 115 in the last Assembly election. Later it won a couple of by-elections too. But the actual strength of the party now is 97 as was evident during the trust vote on March 11 last. The RJD won 22 seats in 2010 Assembly election, but had increased its tally to 25 after by-election victories last year.

But the RJD managed to stake its claim to 100 seats on its performance in the last year’s Lok Sabha election. The argument was that the JD(U) won 115 seats in 2010 only because it contested in alliance with the BJP.

Sources said that once this agreement is finalized––which is likely soon––the name of the new party with its symbol and flag would be announced.An understanding has reportedly been reached between the two parties for the election of 24 members to the Legislative Council. Both the parties may contest 12 seats each.