12 MPs seek national government

Around a dozen non-Congress members of Parliament, including industrialists Rahul Bajaj and Rajeev Chandrashekhar, have appealed for formation of a national government to prevent a mid-term election.

The MPs have argued that more pressing problems face India and the cost of a general election "" estimated to be around Rs 2,700 crore ""is an expense the country should avoid.

"Our credibility among the masses is dipping. The Lok Sabha alone has lost 18 hours and 75 minutes in disruptions since it opened on August 10 for the monsoon session. The cost of running Parliament is Rs.22,089 per minute, which means we have already lost about Rs 3 crore in endless wrangling. The same paralysis is gripping the Rajya Sabha," says the appeal.