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Bihar : JD(U) backtracks on Government formation |
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Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has called off his efforts to form a non-RJD, non-BJP Government in Bihar. While doing so, he accused Steel Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Rambilas Paswan of back-stabbing and insulting him in the process. At a news conference in Patna on April 9, Nitish Kumar said that he had undertaken the exercise at Paswan’s bidding. He expressed surprise over the manner in which Paswan went back on his stand which he had stated in public a day before Nitish Kumar went public with his effort to put a popular Government in place. Nitish Kumar emphasised that Paswan had stated in Ranchi that he could do little if the BJP extended outside support to the Government, thereby consenting to the BJP’s outside support.
Nitish Kumar said it was Paswan himself who had suggested that the JDU leader draft a common minimum programme on the basis of manifestos of all the political parties to be roped in to form a non-RJD, non-BJP Government. He said Paswan had personally agreed to talk to him over the issue when they had met on the occasion of Holi. Taking Paswan to be serious, Nitish said that he had written letters to different parties and Independents asking for their views on a common minimum programme he had drafted.
Observers say that Paswan changed his stand on the BJP providing outside support to a non-RJD Government after his moves drew a strong reaction from the Left parties. The CPI(M) and the CPI went so far as to say that Paswan could not travel in two boats at the same time, with one foot in the UPA Government at the Centre and the other in a Government supported by the BJP in Bihar. They wanted him to quit the Manmohan Singh Government before going ahead with his plans in Bihar.
Nitish Kumar says that the hope of forming a non-RJD Government while keeping out the BJP also is a waste of time. He said the JDU will oppose the extension of President’s Rule in Bihar in the Lok Sabha on the expiry of the present term and welcome fresh elections.
Paswan, on his part, has set up a committee to explore ways of Government formation in Bihar. Observers say that the move is meant to dispel growing doubts among LJP MLAs that he was not doing enough to form a Government in Bihar. Paswan said that the panel will interact with all non-RJD and non-BJP parties to explore the possibilities of forming a secular government. He said the committee would not have any interaction with the JDU till it severed ties with the BJP-led NDA.
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