Dal floats test balloon on Bihar govt formation

Talks were in an "advanced stage" with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ramvilas Paswan to cobble together a majority to form a Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar "latest" by next month, senior Janata Dal (United) leader Prabhunath Singh claimed today.

The JD(U) deputy leader in the Lok Sabha also gave indications about a JD(U)-led coalition government comprising the LJP, which holds the key to government formation with 29 MLAs, and the BJP supporting it from outside.

"Don't go by media reports about Paswan's tough posture on the issue of government formation. The scene which looks dark at present is not really true," Singh told reporters here.

The party was in the midst of its three-day brainstorming session to chart a fresh course of action to form a popular government replacing the President's rule. "We have made significant progress in our efforts to form a JD(U)-led government," he said.

Claiming that he had had several rounds of talks with Paswan on formation of a non-RJD government, the JD(U) leader termed as "positive and encouraging" Paswan's response to the government-formation exercise.

He, however, admitted that there were "certain irritants" coming in the way of the exercise, but these things would be "sorted out in a congenial atmosphere for which efforts are moving in right direction".

Talking about a "JD(U) plus LJP government" with the BJP supporting from outside, of which there is no official word available from either the LJP or the BJP, Singh said, "there is no NDA in Bihar."

"The NDA exists in Delhi alone, not in states," he said adding, "keeping in mind the politically ticklish situation, we hope the BJP will cooperate in the formation of an anti-RJD government."

He claimed that the JD(U) leaders had already had talks with BJP leaders in this connection and their attitude, he said, was positive. "We are friends and our friendship will take a new shape without any heartburn," Singh said without elaborating further.

Singh also made it clear that government would be formed under the leadership of Nitish and "we will not make any compromise on the issue of chief ministership."

Paswan had offered the post of cm to a minority leader of the JD(U) in his bid to form a non-RJD government.

"Even Paswan has himself gone public saying he is not interested in becoming chief minister and will devote more time in national politics," he said.

In reply to another question, Singh said that the JD(U) would have no problem if the Congress intended to join the government.

"At the same time I will like to make it clear that we have not had any direct talks with the Congress and it should come on its own or through Paswan if it really desires to join the government,'' the JD(U) leader said.

In a bid to woo Paswan, Nitish Kumar yesterday mooted a common minimum programme combining salient points of manifestos of anti-RJD parties for forming a popular government but ruled out snapping ties with the BJP.

Kumar had appealed to anti-RJD groups, including the LJP, to be flexible on the issue of forming a popular government in Bihar.