Another LJP MLA joins NDA

Another LJP rebel MLA arrived here today from Patna. Munna Shukla landed at the Birsa Munda Airport here accompanied by an Independent legislator Jagdish Sharma and JD-U MP Lallan Singh.

Shukla told reporters on arrival that he was interested in forming an anti-Lalu Prasad government in Bihar while Singh said he was here in connection with personal work.

The two MLAs are expected to join the other Bihar MLAs, mostly of LJP, who have stayed put in Ghatsila. Rebel LJP MLA Janak Singh claims that with the arrival of the two legislators a total 15 MLAs were camped in Ghatsila and they have letters of support of four more.

Shukla earlier in Patna claimed 27 LJP MLAs were committed to forming a government led by Nitish Kumar and whenever required they would vote for him on the floor of the House.

Talking to PTI, he wondered if it is right to call it a split when 27 of the 29 MLAs support a Nitish-led government.

At least two LJP MLAs""one is Munna Shukla and another Janak Singh""today denied they had been in captivity as alleged by a party leader in Jharkhand and said they had come to the state to explore ways of forming an anti-Lalu government in Bihar.

Shukla claimed they were roaming freely and they intended not to break up LJP.

Meanwhile, Lok Janakshati party chief Ramvilas Paswan faced with the prospect of a split in the legislature group of his party, paraded ten MLAs here in his support after having an hour-long meeting with senior congress leader Harikesh Bahadur during which the two leaders discussed a "proposal" on government formation in Bihar.