As talks on seat-sharing formula drag on in the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, political parties are giving clearance to their candidates to file their nomination papers by Monday.

The RJD has already cleared names of more than 50 candidates, most of whom are sitting MLAs. The list includes Sarwajit Kumar and Sameer Mahaseth, sitting MLAs who were ministers in the then Nitish-RJD government.

“Candidates have been asked to file their nomination, but they have to be prepared to withdraw it if their seats are allocated to any other alliance partner,” said Birendar Yadav, RJD MLA from Maner in rural Patna. He stressed that all seats where their candidates are filing nomination are scheduled to go to the poll in the first phase, and have been approved by the allies.

Around 30 BJP leaders — inc

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