PATNA, Oct. 13 -- After days of intense speculation and series of meetings, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on Sunday reached a consensus on seat sharing formula with two main principal parties of the alliance -- the BJP and JD (U) -- to contest 101 seats each while the Chirag Paswan-led LJP-RV managed to bargain 29 seats. The two smaller parties, Jitan Manjhi-led HAM-S and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) would be contesting six seats each. The information on seat-sharing was shared by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha. Kushwaha also tweeted the numbers after a fresh round of talks with BJP leader Vinod Tawde on Sunday afternoon. "The NDA allies have completed the distribution of seats in a cordial atmosphere. All workers and leaders of NDA parties warmly welcome this. Bihar is ready and a NDA government will be formed again," Pradhan tweeted. "BJP - 101, JDU - 101, LJP (R) - 29, RLM - 06, HAM - 06. Workers and leaders of all NDA parties joyfully welcome this unanimous decision.Bihar is ready. Once again #NDA government," posted Kushwaha on X. Pradhan's announcement, for now, puts an end to the seat-sharing tussle between the NDA constituents, particularly the HAM-S, led by Union minister and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and the RLM, which threatened to go solo in the two-phase Bihar assembly polls. LJP (RV)'s Chirag Paswan had been demanding no less than 40 seats but finally settled on 29, four more than initially offered by the BJP. The JD(U) and the BJP had contested on 115 and 110 seats respectively in 2020 assembly polls and won on 43 and 74 respectively. The two got a vote share of 15.39% and 19.46% respectively. The HAM-S which was also a part of the NDA in 2020, contested on seven seats and won on four with a vote share of 0.89%. The other two present allies of the NDA, the RLM, contested on 99 seats independently and lost all but managed a vote share of 1.77%. The united LJP contested on 135 seats and won one seat with a vote share of 5.66%. As expected, seat-sharing within the NDA was to be finalised by Sunday evening and the first signs of consensus came on Sunday morning with Manjhi expressing his unflinching support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Will stay with Prime Minister Modi till my last breath," posted Manjhi on X, highlighting a significant breakthrough in seat-sharing. The BJP leaders aware of the developments said that HAM-S, which had been demanding no less than 15 seats, relented after it was successfully brought on board by the BJP. The NDA leaders said that the HAM-S has been allocated six assembly seats and one MLC seat, resolving a major point of contention for the alliance. NDA sources said that the allies demand of "quality seats" was kept in mind while striking the seat sharing deal and final list of alliance would be released by October 13. The last date of filing nominations for the first phase of polls scheduled on November 6 ends on October 17. In the meantime, after marathon meetings of Union minister Amit Shah and party national president JP Nadda with Bihar BJP core committee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the central election committee meeting on Sunday evening to finalise the candidates' list....