Bihar political logjam continues

tna March 02, 2005With all the major players hardening their respective stances, the logjam over formation of a new government in Bihar was far from being resolved.

While Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP) leader Ramvilas Paswan ruled out any rapproachment with Lalu Prasad, whose party elected Rabri Devi as leader of the RJD legislature group in Patna, Janata Dal (United) parliamentary board chairman Sharad Yadav ruled out the party breaking ranks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Significantly, the RJD chief today spoke of his party sitting in opposition if it failed to get the numbers even as he claimed it would form the next government.

However, he said he would not allow the Bihar developments to impact on the central coalition. He was also against President's Rule.

Amidst reports that newly-elected legislators of his party were in favour of seeking the BJP's outside support to form the government, Paswan ruled out such a possibility. He told Gandhi that that the new government could be formed with the support of 132 members in the 243-member House.

Paswan today proposed to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi that help of the JD(U) and non-RJD and non-BJP legislators could be taken to form the new government in Bihar failing which President