PATNA, Oct. 22 -- With nominations over and a few withdrawals of names, the Opposition's Grand Alliance - that has been mired in division over distribution of seats among partners before they somehow agreed for a formula on October 20 - continues to be a house divided. A number of candidates of various partners are pitted against each other in about 11 seats. Meanwhile, the alliance hasn't yet formally announced the seat-sharing agreement that it claims to have achieved. Out of 243 seats in the Bihar state assembly, the seven parties in the coalition has put 253 candidates as per the seat allotments and nominations filed by allies comprising Congress, RJD, Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP), CPI-ML(liberation), CPI, CPM and Indian Inclusive Party(IIP). According to records given by partner parties, the RJD is contesting 143, Congress 61,, VIP 15, CPI allotted six but put candidates in three more seats), CPM 4, IIP 1 and CPI-ML(liberation) 20. The understanding that was elusive when the alliance failed to cobble together a seat formula before the beginning of the nomination process has remained fractured even after the nomination is over and the date of withdrawal too is closing in on October 23. Candidates announced by parties in absence of a deal are adamant to contest the seats where they have filed their papers from despite the agreement within the alliance that if another partner has fielding its candidate from the said seat, former must forego it. It resulted in a "friendly fight" on 11 seats. The Gauara Bauram assembly seat in Darbhanga allotted to VIkasheeel Insaan Party (VIP) led by former minister Mukesh Sahani has become fresh flashpoint between the RJD and VIP as Afzal Ali Khan, who had filed his papers on a RJD symbol from the seat, is adamant on contesting the polls despite RJD chief Lalu Prasad having written a letter to the district election officer, Darbhanga apprising him that the seat has gone to VIP kitty. "I am the RJD nominee. I am contesting the seat," said Afzal Ali, over reports that VIP has demanded the rejection of his nomination from the seat based on the RJD chief's letter. "We are in a contest from the seat. Ali has filed his papers from the RJD symbol. Maybe some letters were written to the election authorities. But Ali is in the contest from the seat as RJD nominee because he has not withdrawn from the contest. We have the capability to win and if required, there can always be a friendly fight with VIP," said Badre Alam Badar, an RJD leader and father- in-law of Afzal Ali. On the other hand, Mukesh Sahani told reporters that there was some misunderstanding but it is being redressed, "Santosh Sahani is the official nominee of the GA from the Gaura Bauram seat. Even the RJD's list of seats does not mention Gaura Bauram," Sahani said. Significantly, the scope of RJD nominee's candidature getting rejected looks bleak owing to election rules. "The letter from the RJD regarding its authorised candidate was received after 3 pm on the last day of nomination, whereas as per rules, such a letter should reach before 3 pm in order to rescind the candidature. Therefore, in such a case, if the candidates do not withdraw their nominations, their candidature will remain valid," said Darbhanga District Election Officer-cum-DM Kaushal Kumar. However, till Tuesday evening there were at least 11 seats including Gaura Bauram where the issue of multiple nominations filed by various constituents of the INDIA bloc remained unresolved, making the "friendly fight" an unavoidable reality. Out of 11 seats where GA allies have put candidates against each other, there is confrontation in four seats between RJD and Congress namely Vaishali, Sikandra, Narkatiyaganj and Kahalgaon while the RJD is in contest with VIP in three seats Gaura Bauram, Chainpur and Babubarahi. The CPI and Congress are in contest in Bachhwara, Kargahar, Biharsharief and Rajapakar. "We have already resolved the dispute in Lalganj seat where the Congress has withdrawn. RJD's Shivani Shukla is the sole candidate of the GA from this seat," said Chittaranjan Gagan, RJD state spokesperson. He also exuded confidence that disputes existing in other seats would be also resolved before the last date of withdrawal of nominations for the second phase on October 23. However, sources said the possibility of "friendly fights" in at least five contentious seats out of 11 where partners have given candidates against each other remains open as the nominee from Congress, RJD and CPI have not withdrawn despite the last date of withdrawal for the first phase ending on October 20. In six other disputed seats going to polls in the second phase, there is some possibility of reconciliation as there are two days left for the closure of the withdrawal date. Moreover, the JMM, which was keen on contesting seats as part of GA in Bihar, too is annoyed over not getting any seats in the seat-sharing deal with RJD and Congress. The JMM was seeking at least six seats and was assured of being given a few seats recently. On the other hand, the NDA leaders including BJP and JD(U) have taken digs at the bickering within the coalition. With the end of nominations, 3075 candidates are in the fray for the two phases of polling. Of them, 1761 are in fray for the second phase (for which nominations can be withdrawn till October 23) and 1,314 for the first phase, whose last day of nomination was October 20. The final figure of the nomination for the second phase of polls would be available only after October 23rd. Voting in Bihar is taking place on November 6 and November 11 and results will be announced on November 14. Nominations for the second phase polls had begun on October 13, with the last date for filing was October 20. The last date for scrutiny was Tuesday. For first phase nomination started in October 10 and ended on October 17. The ECI was, however, yet to release the number of candidates post scrutiny of nominations on the final day Tuesday for the second phase polls on 122 seats across 20 districts of Bihar....