New Delhi, May 22
Amid the possibility of a split in the 29-member legislature party of the Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar, the Congress is understood to have advised LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan to relent on the formation of an RJD-led government in the state.

Sources said the suggestion was made by senior Congress leader Harikesh Bahadur, who is in charge of Bihar, during an hour-long meeting with Mr Paswan here. The two leaders are understood to have discussed a proposal for government formation in Bihar.

Mr Paswan refused to spell out the proposal, but Congress sources said he had “more or less agreed” to an RJD-led government if it is headed by a candidate from the minority community.

The sources said that it was for the RJD to think about Mr Paswan’s earlier proposal on a Congress-led government under a chief minister from the minority community.

After his meeting with Mr Bahadur, Mr Paswan paraded 10 MLAs loyal to him who had reached the Capital today. Mr Paswan claimed that he had the support of two of his party MLAs who are in jail. Four of LJP MLAs were now in jail in Bihar.

Mr Bahadur said here that the Congress wanted a UPA government in Bihar and the decision of UPA allies would be acceptable to the party.

To a question whether the Congress would take up the issue of government formation with the RJD, Mr Bahadur said the party would talk to everybody.

Earlier, after meeting his party leaders, Mr Paswan denied that there was any split in his party following the resignation of party general secretary Nagmani and some of his MLAs being in touch with the NDA over government formation in Bihar.

“If a Congress-led government in Bihar is sworn in under the leadership of a Muslim and whip is issued, then there will be no option for the rebels but to come back to the party,” he said, adding: “otherwise, they will lose membership.” Mr Paswan said MLAs in Bihar were yet to take oath.

In a bid to prevent a split in the LJP Legislature Party in Bihar, party general secretary Suraj Bhan Singh escorted some party MLAs to Delhi to attend a meeting called by Mr Paswan. However, the rebel group, at least 11 of whose MLAs were in NDA-ruled Jharkhand, claimed support of two-third of LJP legislators. President of LJP’s dissolved Bihar unit Narendra Singh today urged Mr Paswan to work towards the formation of a Nitish Kumar-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today sought a report from Bihar Governor Buta Singh in the wake of the political developments in the state.

The move comes after Mr Patil separately met Mr Lalu Prasad and Mr Paswan.