The SP has decided not to field any candidate in Bihar, ``to keep options open for strengthening the third front, its state unit president, Saroj Kumar Bharati said in a statement.

``We have asked our prospective candidates to withdraw their nomination if they have already filed papers for the first phase of poll,'' he said. The SP had earlier decided to field canditates in ten seats against the RJD.

Bharati said the decision was taken following direction by Rashtriya Loktantrika Morcha president Mulayam Singh Yadav to consolidate the ``anti-communal votes'' in favour of the RJD.