Patna: Bihar may be heading for snap Assembly election as JDU leaders have declared that they are ready to face polls anytime.

State JDU president Bashishtha Narayan Singh recently hinted that his party was ready for polls "in all conditions even if it is held with the Lok Sabha polls". Sources indicate that chief minister Nitish Kumar has given his consent to Bihar going to polls along with the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held early 2019.

JDU sources indicate that the going for early polls would have several benefits even if it means swimming or sinking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Ever since we have walked out of the Grand Alliance, the Opposition, namely the RJD, has been alleging that we have betrayed the people's mandate. We want to end that perception as fast as possible," said a senior JDU leader.

However, the actual reason for bracing for early polls is the party's belief that it would give them a better position to bargain seats in both the Lok Sabha and the Assembly with the BJP. In 2010, when the BJP fought the Assembly polls, the BJP was given 102 while the rest went to the JDU.

The JDU had contested 25 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, leaving the rest 15 for the BJP.

However, after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when the BJP won 22 seats and its allies another 9, the JDU found itself on a weak footing for negotiating seats after it joined the NDA.

Party sources indicate that it was willing to allow the BJP to play the big brother in the alliance but it still would like the larger share in the Assembly polls. The JDU is confident that the BJP would need Nitish Kumar if they want to win a substantial number of seats for the Lok Sabha this time and would concede to that demand.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has already clarified that the BJP will contest the polls with the JDU whenever it is held.

"Of course the JDU is aware of the fact that the magic of the BJP-JDU combine seen in 2010 when it won 206 of the 243 seats may not work if there is no wave in Modi's favour," remarked a senior JDU leader. "But on the other hand, there is a large force in Bihar who do not want Lalu to return. It is going to help both the BJP and the JDU."