The announcement puts to rest the concept of friendly contests as the Congress too, has announced 16 seats, two more than the "Laloo allotted quota" of 14.

Speaking to the press here, Laloo disclosed the names of 33 candidates. The names of the rest three seats--Balliah, Gopalganj and Khagaria--would be announced later, he said. Laloo's brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav has been clamouring for party ticket from Gopalganj. Laloo himself will stick to Madhepura.

The Congress, meanwhile, has decided to field Ishwari Ram Paswan from Hazaribagh and Phurkan Ansari from Godda. Both these seats were earlier in the "quota" of the CPI before it broke away.

Interestingly, Laloo, too announced the name of candidates from these two seats. They are Akloo Ram Mahto from Hazaribagh and Javed IqbalAnsari from Godda.

"This indicates that there is no formal tie-up between the Congress and RJD as there is bound to be a fight between these parties at these seats. By this move, both the parties have now insured a clear victory for the sitting MP Yashwant Sinha," said a source in RJD.

"Our main enemy is to drive communal parties out of the country. Earlier, we had thought of contesting 34 seats, but not we have decided to contest from 36," said a belligerent Laloo.