PATNA, Oct. 11 -- Amid the ongoing seat sharing talks among the allies in the Opposition INDIA bloc in Bihar, there are indications the senior most constituent Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is continuing to play hardball in seat allotment to other allies and may contest close to 144 seats as it did in 2020 polls, people aware of the matters in the party said. "We will not contest much fewer seats than we did in 2020. It could be around 140 to 144 this time too as like in 2020, Talks are still going on with allies and there are issues on certain seats.,By far, the deal would be finalised soon," said a senior RJD leader, who is in know of the matter. Insiders in the RJD said that the party had held several rounds of talks with Congress, VIP and Left parties as well as new entrants like Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party led by former Union minister Pashupati Paras in the last couple of days. It is learnt there is still a hitch on six to seven seats between RJD, Congress and Left parties with all the three major constituents not coming on an agreement to leave their claim on these seats. Sources said the contentious seats include Jale, Vaisali and Lalganj among others seats which the RJD is claiming from Congress while the Congress is eyeing the Bachhwara seat from the CPI. There are few other seats like Paliganj , Digha and Patna Sahib where RJD has staked claim from CPI-ML(liberation) and Congress. The ML too has demanded a few seats which were allotted to the Congress in 2020 elections. A round of meetings had been scheduled late in the evening today among RJD and Congress leaders to iron out the nitty-gritty of seat sharing so that a final deal could be stitched, sources said. Meanwhile, the RJD held its state and central parliamentary board meeting at the residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi on Friday where RJD chief Lalu Prasad was authorised to take a call on seat adjustments of RJD with other allies in the coalition as well as decide the party's candidates for the forthcoming assembly polls. Insiders in the RJD said that the party had already given a green signal to over two dozen candidates who have their constituencies going to polls in the first phase of election on November 6. "The RJD candidates in big number have started getting tickets. A formal announcement of the seat sharing deal may be done in the next couple of days," said another RJD leader, in know of the matter....