LJP chief Paswan meets Sonia Gandhi

March 02, 2005

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and told her that a new Government could be formed in Bihar, taking the help of JD (U) and anti-RJD and anti-BJP parties or President's rule could be imposed if it did not materialise.

Declining to reveal Gandhi's response to his suggestions, Paswan said that he sought to impress upon the Congress President that her party should not extend support to RJD in Government formation as the "mandate is against RJD".

The LJP leader took the opportunity to remind her of Lalu's attacks against her and her party during campaigning and said the RJD leader was "shamelessly begging" for Congress support in the "garb of secularism".

Paswan said JD (U) should come out of the BJP-led NDA and help form a secular Government. "Now, it is up to JD(U) to take a decision," he said.

He also said that if there was no possibility of Government formation, the state should be placed under President's rule, may be for six months.

Earlier, soon after reaching New Delhi, Paswan held talks with senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Arjun Singh before he called on Gandhi.

To a question, the LJP leader said that he was not in the race for chief ministership in Bihar. He also dismissed suggestions of a compromise formula under which he would take Railway portfolio from Lalu Prasad and in return, support RJD in Bihar.