Nitish fires salvo at Paswan

March 07, 2005

Accusing LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan of pushing Bihar towards President's Rule, NDA on Sunday apprehended that RJD would continue to rule the state indirectly as it was an important ally of UPA at the Centre.

"A canard is being spread that JD(U) is the villain of the piece for pushing the state towards President's Rule.

"But in fact, it is because of Paswan, who wants to remain a minister at the Centre and continue his anti-RJD posture in Bihar," senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said.

He was talking to reporters after an hour-long meeting at the residence of the party's Parliamentary Board chairman Sharad Yadav, where Arun Jaitley, BJP general secretary and in-charge of Bihar, was also present.

Kumar said the "cherished desire" to provide a clean administration in Bihar would remain a "day-dream" so long as there was President's Rule in the state.

He added NDA would try to ensure that a popular government was installed in the state as early as possible.

Asserting that the elections were held for installing a popular government in Bihar, Kumar said the imposition of President's Rule in the state was the only option in the present scenario.

"It is unfortunate," he said.

The JD(U) leader said though the polls gave a fractured verdict, the mandate was clearly against the RJD.

"By ensuring imposition of President's Rule in Bihar, Paswan may be happy, but his happiness will prove to be shortlived as we will try to have a popular government," he said.

Kumar said since Lalu Prasad was a minister at the Centre, he would rule the state indirectly by ensuring that advisors of his choice were sent to the state.

In such a situation, the state would not be able to have a clean administration and Bihar would continue to be "steeped in darkness".