New Delhi: The BJP has decided to contest 170 seats in the Bihar assembly polls -- a major chunk in the 243-member house -- leaving 73 seats for its three allies -- LJP, HAM and RLSP, sources here said on Thursday.

A maximum of 40 seats was likely to go to Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, followed by 20 seats to Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, and 13 seats to former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), according to informed sources.