Decision on President`s rule in Bihar likely today

March 07, 2005

With the term of the outgoing Bihar Assembly expiring tonight and with no alliance being able to muster the required magic number, governor Buta Singh recommended President rule in the state, which threw a fractured mandate in the 243 member House.

The Union Cabinet is all set to endorse Bihar Governor Buta Singh`s recommendation of President`s Rule in the state.

Lok Janshakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan has emerged as a kingmaker in Bihar with his 29 MLAs, being wooed and targeted by both the NDA and the RJD.

Both parties have fallen sort of the 122 figure, required to form the government.

However, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that the central government had not received any such recommendation from governor.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have discussed the report of Bihar Governor Buta Singh with regard to political developments in the state.

Earlier in the day, Singh called LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan to Raj Bhawan to know his party`s stand on government formation but Paswan stuck to his stand that he would not support either RJD or BJP in forming a ministry.

Meanwhile, the RJD, which had staked claim on Saturday to form the next government with a list of 104 legislators, described the development as "unfortunate".

Talking to Reporters, RJD spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said that the people of Bihar had not voted for the President rule in the state. He also said that the Congress should make its stand clear.

On the other hand, BJP national vice-President Sushil Modi said that the NDA, which emerged as the largest pre-poll alliance, tried its best even contacted LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

A delegation of the NDA leaders had met with the Governor hours after RJD staked claim on Saturday, urged the governor not to invite the RJD to form the next government in the State.

Modi said that the NDA told the governor that if an alliance, still not having the numbers, has to be invited it should be the NDA. "A delegation of BJP and JD(U) met the governor. We are 92 (MLAs) and RJD is only 91," said Modi. Accusing Paswan of pushing the state to President rule, NDA leader Nitish Kumar said that the President rule would mean only "Lalu rule".

Hence, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan should come out of the UPA to form government in the state with JD(U), said Kumar.

Welcoming the recommendation, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said that the President rule would clear the garbage in the state politics.