The Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar announced its seat-sharing formula on Friday, with the RJD to contest 26 of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress will field its candidates in nine seats, while the Left parties have been allotted five seats.

Katihar, Kishanganj, Patna Sahib, Sasaram, Bhagalpur, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Maharajganj seats have been alloted to the Congress. The Left will contest from Begusarai, Khagaria, Aarh, Karakat and Nalanda. The RJD will field its candidates in the rest of the 26 seats.

Lok Sabha elections for the 40 seats in Bihar will be held in seven phases on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress won only one seat while the RJD and Left parties drew a blank. The NDA alliance -- BJP and Janata Dal (United) -- swept the polls and won 17 and 16 seats, respectively.

The BJP had bagged a vote share of 24.1%, while the JD(U) had a vote share of 22.3%. The undivided LJP had won six seats with a vote share of 8%. The Congress could only secure a vote share of 7.9%.

On the other hand, among the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents, the BJP is set to contest 17 seats and the JD(U) 16. The Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Aawam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) will contest one seat each. The Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest five seats/

Source: India Today