The Hindu : National : Paswan exercising `his democratic right,' says Congress

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Tuesday, Apr 05, 2005

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National

Paswan exercising `his democratic right,' says Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 4. The Congress today said the Lok Jan Shakti Party chief, Ram Vilas Paswan, was exercising his democratic right by exploring the possibilities for the formation of a government in Bihar. This followed the overtures being made by the Janata Dal (United) to the LJP, a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance.

The Congress said it supported the Rashtriya Janata Dal and if necessary, would sit in the Opposition in the event of a non-RJD government being formed. However, it said that numbers do not match up for the formation of a government there.

"We gave support to [the] RJD for government formation, but there is no possibility of formation of a viable government, that is why the Governor, recommended President's rule," the Congress spokesperson, Anand Sharma, said. Even Mr. Paswan had made it clear that he would not take the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party, either directly or indirectly, to form the government, he said.

On the Congress stance in case a government is formed in Bihar following the JD(U) initiative, Mr. Sharma said the party would sit in the Opposition along with the RJD. "We are with the RJD and we value our relations. Our position remains unchanged."

The Congress also commented on the BJP president, L.K. Advani's observation that the party had to compromise with its ideology and policies in order to share power at the Centre along with other constituents of the National Democratic Alliance.

He said Mr. Advani's confession vindicated the Congress stand that the NDA was an "opportunistic alliance" that was welded together by power. "The BJP has done so [compromised] in the past" and Mr. Advani tried to portray good governance "as a thin cover while the real motive was power."

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