PATNA, July 19 -- Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election early next year, several Bihar-based regional parties are gearing up to contest polls in the neighbouring state by looking for prospective alliances and also strike a seat sharing arrangement for better poll fortunes. The Janat Dal (United) , one of the key constituents of the NDA in Bihar, has started strengthening its organisation by mobilising its workers for the polls and there are indications that the party is keen on contesting higher number of seats than it contested in 2022 UP polls. On Saturday, the JD(U) state unit of UP held its working committee meeting in Lucknow to review the preparations for the next year's assembly polls in the state and directives were issued to strengthen the party's organisational base at the district level and also hold meetings at the district and state level, which would be attended by senior JD(U) leaders including from Bihar and also national working president of the party Sanjay Jha. Today's meeting was attended by Bihar's rural development minister and party's in-charge for UP, Shravan Kumar. UP president of the party, Anoop Singh Patel, said that Saturday's meeting was the first election-related review meeting of the party for next year's polls and several key decisions were taken like inviting resumes from prospective candidates and expansion of the party at the booth level, district and constituency level. "We are keen to contest higher number of seats than last 2022 assembly polls. Our preparations this time is more strong. Of course, a decision on whether any alliance with BJP will be stitched has to be taken by the central leadership," Patel said. In 2022 assembly polls in UP, JD(U) had contested 25 seats though it failed to win any seat. There was no alliance of the JD(U) with the BJP in the last assembly polls in UP, party officials said. "The party has its support base across UP and not only in eastern UP. So candidates would be put across the state," Patel said. The rural development minister, Bihar, cum JD(U) in-charge for UP, Kumar could not be reached for comments. Similiarly, Vikassheel Insaan Party, having its base in Bihar and a constituent of opposition INDIA bloc, has also started gearing up for the UP polls with party's chief Mukesh Sahani, a former minister, already having visited UP in last few weeks to review the party's organisational strength. The VIP, which banks on the support of Nishad community (fishermen community) and other EBCs, had contested the UP polls in 2022 by fielding candidates from 53 seats though none of the nominees won. "We are in talks with many parties for alliance and raising our demand for giving scheduled caste status to Nishads in UP. Though we have not decided on number of seats to contest, this time we will field higher number of candidates," said party's national spokesperson Dev Jyoti. Another constituent of the NDA, Lok Janshakti Party( RV), too is also eyeing to contest the UP polls next year, sources said. The party had contested around 21 seats in the 2022 UP polls but could not win any seat. "This time, we are already preparing for all 400 plus seats in UP and a decision on alliance would be taken before the polls by our central leadership. UP polls is a big priority for us this time. Number of seats to be contested will be higher than last time," said LJP(RV) national spokesperson Rajesh Kumar Bhatt. He said that on 15 July, the party had a held a state level meeting in Lucknow to review the poll preparations even as LJP (RV) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan had held a big meeting in Lucknow on July 5 to mark the birth anniversary of LJP founder and late Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Meanwhile, Bihar's main opposition party, the RJD, is seemingly undecided so far on contesting the UP polls and there are all chances, the party led by RJD chief Lalu Prasad would be extending support to Samajwadi Party (SP) led by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. "We have not yet decided on whether to contest the UP polls. But, there is a possibility we will extend our support to the SP as part of the opposition unity to defeat the BJP-led NDA in UP," said a senior MLA of the party, who is in know of the matter....