M A I N   N E W S

CPI not to support Rabri govt

MIDNAPORE (West Bengal), March 12 (UNI) — The Communist Party of India (CPI) today categorically stated that it will not support the Rabri Devi government in Bihar.“We will not support Laloo Prasad Yadav at any cost. We would prefer to sit in the Opposition,’’ CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan told newspersons here after attending a condolence meeting of CPI leader Geeta Mukherjee. “There is no question of supporting the RJD or a man of the stature of Laloo Yadav, whom we have seen ruling Bihar for past several years,’’ he said.

Asked whether the CPI could extend “issue-based” support to the RJD, Mr Bardhan said, “All these talks about issue-based support are rubbish. We do not have faith in it.’’

He, however, did not not say whether the CPI would vote against the confidence motion to be moved by Mrs Rabri Devi or abstain.

The Congress has extended support of its 23 members to the RJD while the two members of the CPI(M) have also promised to support the Rabri Devi government.

In another development, the BSP supremo Kanshi Ram today said the five-MLA strong party in Bihar Assembly would extend outside support to the Rabri Devi government and keep the option open on the question of joining ministry.

The Congress late tonight admitted that partymen in Bihar stood divided on the question of supporting the Rabri Devi government, but hoped they would ultimately follow the decision of the party.

“No doubt there is a division among Congressmen, but it is at the stage of decision-making and once a decision is taken, it is expected that the activists and legislators will follow the decision,” senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee told Star News.

Meanwhile, according to a Patna report, Mrs Rabri Devi, who took over as the 30th Chief Minister of Bihar yesterday, a day after the fall of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, will seek vote of confidence in the state assembly on March 16 at Patna.