Paswan to meet Sonia; may discuss formulae to end Bihar stalemate

NEW DELHI: Amid reports of a possible rebellion by the restive MLAs, Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, with key to government formation in Bihar, is likely to meet UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday understandably to discuss two new formulae to end the stalemate in the state.

Paswan is understood to be toying with two proposals with the first being a coalition with LJP joining a dispensation headed by Congress and Lalu Prasad-led RJD playing a minor role.

He, however, wants the Chief Minister, agreeably from Congress, to be from the Muslim community.

According to reports, the second formula is in line with his stated stand to keep RJD out and involve JD-U in the government with a Muslim CM from the party if the latter agrees to snap with BJP and come out of NDA.

The two formulae have been evolved on the basis of the feedback from the seven-member LJP committee headed by Ranjan Yadav to explore possible permutations and combinations in the present situation.

LJP has crucial 29 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly and its equidistance from the RJD and BJP has been a stumbling block in the formation of a government in state under President's rule after the elections threw a hung Assembly.