PATNA, 3 March 2005 — The Congress party has extended its full support to the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD’s) bid to form the new government in Bihar, a move later described as “unfortunate by the Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan.
The Congress decision is bound to have an impact on its ties with its other ally, the LJP, which won 29 seats but has persistently refused to back an RJD government.
The Congress sent a letter to Bihar Governor Buta Singh extending the party’s support to Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD’s bid to form the next government in the state.
Looking relaxed for the first time since Sunday’s outcome gave his RJD only 75 seats in the 243-member legislative assembly, Lalu told reporters “the Congress had sent a letter of support to Governor Buta Singh.”
The letter pledges that all 10 Congress legislators will support the RJD in forming the government. Lalu has also received a letter of support from the Communist Party of India-Marxist, (CPM) while the Communist Party of India (CPI) with four legislators is likely to send its letter later in the day, the sources said.
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with four legislators has also extended support to the RJD.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-led by Mayawati with two legislators has already assured Lalu of its support. The RJD chief said that the he was expecting a letter from the Samajwadi Party besides an unspecified number of independents.
Asked how many independents would support his party, Lalu shot back: “Why should I disclose the numbers?”
Lalu insisted that the RJD was the single largest party and would stake its claim to forming the next government with the support of “secular forces”.
Rabri Devi was elected leader of the RJD Legislature Party Tuesday in a meeting of the newly elected legislators.
Meanwhile, the Raj Bhawan (governor’s house) here is the center of intense political activity these days and the governor is a busy man who will ultimately decide the fate of the next government in the state.
