The Hindu : Front Page : Paswan keeps NDA, RJD guessing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 28, 2005

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Front Page

Paswan keeps NDA, RJD guessing

By Our Special Correspondent

KINGMAKER IN BIHAR: Lok Jan Shakti Party leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan holds the key to government formation in Bihar. Addressing a press conference in Patna on Sunday, he favoured President's rule ``as one form of governance.'' - Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

PATNA, FEB. 27. With the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the National Democratic Alliance at his mercy, the Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Steel Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, is playing his cards close to his chest and engaging them in a guessing game on the formation of the next government in Bihar.

Well aware that he has emerged as a kingmaker, he has made it clear that he would support neither the NDA nor the RJD in forming a government nor form a government with their support. But his presence at the United Progressive Alliance meeting in Delhi on Tuesday is likely to prove crucial. Mr. Paswan confirmed that he would go to Delhi later tomorrow to take part.

Mr. Paswan claimed that the Congress had not approached him with any offers. "They know my stand [his opposition to the RJD]. Why should they send any feelers to me?"

Stressing that the mandate was for him to sit in the Opposition, he underscored his unwillingness to push the State into ruin only to put a popular government in place. "When I'm not supporting anyone, Central rule is the only option. That is also one form of governance." The LJP chief said he had accomplished yet another mission — ensuring the defeat of the RJD-led Government. He also took credit for the defeat of the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections last year. He attributed his success to the new Muslim-Dalit equation he had propped up to drive a wedge in the RJD's Muslim-Yadav combination.

Mr. Paswan said he had received both the anti-RJD and anti-BJP votes and said it was the reason why he could not court either of the two.He scotched the rumours that he had been offered the Railway Ministry and said that he was not fighting for any portfolio.

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