Split in LJP hots up Bihar, Patil seeks report from Buta

NEW DELHI/PATNA/RANCHI: Uncertainty gripped Bihar on Sunday as a split in Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP prompted key players to intensify attempts at government formation and the Home Ministry, taking note of the swift developments, sought a report from Bihar Governor Buta Singh on the situation there.



As Home Minister Shivraj Patil held separate meetings with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Paswan in New Delhi, police in Patna put up roadblocks on the roads to Raj Bhawan and securitymen turned out in huge numbers.



There were indications that the UPA members were trying to iron out differences and stake claim to prevent the NDA from making a formal bid at government formation.



LJP rebels, willing to back JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar as the chief minister, have been flown to Ranchi in NDA-ruled Jharkhand and moved to Ghatsila. Paswan could manage to parade only 10 of his 29 MLAs in New Delhi. Three were flown to Delhi on a chartered flight by LJP general secretary Surajbhan.



Aware of his dwindling numbers, Paswan held an hour-long meeting with Congress leader Harikesh Bahadur to discuss a ‘‘proposal'' on government formation in Bihar.



He was clearly under pressure to relent and agree to a RJD or a Congress-led government. ‘‘I have no objection whether RJD gives inside or outside support so long as it is a Muslim chief minister,'' Paswan said.



Bahadur said, ‘‘Everything is under consideration and we want a UPA government. Whatever the UPA constituents decide will be acceptable to the Congress. We expect a decision soon.''



Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose party asked Governor Buta Singh not to entertain any NDA claim to form the government, threatened to file an FIR against ‘‘horse trading'' and ‘‘wrongful confinement'' of MLAs. He said MLAs were ‘‘being bought just as cattle sold in the Sonepur mela (in Bihar).''



In Patna, the high alert for police and para-military forces has given rise to speculation that something dramatic is in the offing once Buta Singh returns from Delhi.



Both Paswan and Lalu have conveyed to the rebel MLAs that their efforts to cross over to the NDA will be useless if the Assembly is dissolved. In Patna, the RJD criticised the NDA for trying to engineer a split in the LJP.



Bihar Home Commissioner A K Biswas said that they had sought extra police reinforcements to maintain law and order.



NDA leaders, meanwhile, alleged that Buta Singh would go to any length to stop the formation of a JD(U)-led government. The Governor has already charged the NDA with attempts at horse-trading and made it clear that he would not allow such a thing.



Aware that LJP rebels could invite the anti-defection law, the NDA is trying to make its case foolproof before making any claim at government formation.



‘‘We will stake our claim only when two-third members of the LJP split and support us,'' said JD(U) leader Upendra Prasad Kushwaha.