NDA’S deal time

When the Paswans, father Ram Vilas and son Chirag, up the bargaining ante, it is safe to assume that an election is round the corner and its outcome hangs in the balance. With the Bihar Assembly polls likely by October, Chirag has taken to criticising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. On Saturday, he told party workers in a video conference that the shape of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar could change and on Sunday, a nervous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership reached out to Chirag. BJP General Secretary Bhupender Yadav met him for over an hour. Chirag has even spoken of becoming the chief minister, but sources say all that the Paswans want is a better deal in seat sharing and resources. They have better bargaining power, now that a third front is taking shape with former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and his Rashtra Manch deciding to contest the polls.