New Delhi, April 2
Playing down efforts being made by the Janata Dal (U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) to cobble together a government in Bihar, the Congress today maintained that the two parties did not have the requisite numbers to satisfy the Governor.
Reports about government formation gained momentum today when JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar met LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan over breakfast at the residence of Bihar Samajwadi Party leader Dadan Pahelwan. Subsequently, Mr Kumar claimed the two parties along with independents and other smaller parties, which did not include the BJP, would be able to get close to the half-way figure of 122.
Although Mr Paswan is stated to be under tremendous pressure from his newly-elected legislators to form a non-RJD government, the LJP leader later reiterated his earlier position that he would only support the JD(U) if it severs its links with the BJP.
The Congress, however, is depending on Bihar governor Buta Singh to ensure that no alternative combination is invited to form the next government till it is able to furnish written proof it has support of 122 legislators.
Maintaining that Mr Nitish Kumar did not have the numbers to form a government, Mrs Ambika Soni, AICC media cell chairperson, made a pointed reference to Mr Buta Singh’s repeated assertions that he would only invite an individual or a group to form a government if they were able to prove they had requisite support.
As far as the Congress is concerned, Mrs Soni reiterated that it has already given its letter of support to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and there is no change in its stand. She was also confident that Mr Paswan would not resile from his stated position of having no truck with the BJP, either directly or indirectly.
“I am going by what he said on record only last night ... we have no reason to disbelieve Mr Paswan,” Mrs Soni maintained.
