Patna, March 5
Bihar today appeared hurtling towards imposition of President’s Rule with Governor Buta Singh saying he would invite only a combination that submitted sworn affidavits of at least 122 MLAs required for a simple majority as the impasse continued over government formation.
With no formation getting close to the magic figure in the 243-member house, RJD leader Rabri Devi staked claim to form the government prompting the opposition NDA to tell the Governor that if an alliance, still not having the numbers, had to be invited to form the ministry, it should be the NDA and not the RJD combine.
An RJD team, led by caretaker Chief Minister Rabri Devi and party supremo Laloo Prasad, backed by 75 party MLAs, besides 10 of the Congress, three of NCP, two of the BSP and one of the CPM, met the Governor to the stake claim.
Some time later, an NDA delegation headed by BJP national vice-president Sushil Kumar Modi met the Governor urging him not to entertain the RJD’s claim.
“Since the RJD and its allies have lesser number of seats, our claim is stronger,” Mr Modi said. He added that the NDA total (JD(U) 55 and BJP 37) came to 92 and with the backing of several of 17 Independents, it was the largest combination. — PTI
