Bihar deadlock may figure majorly at JD(U) meet

The deadlock over Bihar Govt formation is likely to figure at the two-day National Executive meeting of JD(U) in New Delhi on Sunday.

The deadlock over government formation in Bihar is likely to figure prominently at the two-day National Executive meeting of Janata Dal (United) beginning in New Delhi on Sunday.

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The meeting, being held for the first time since the crucial Bihar and Jharkhand assembly polls, assumes significance in the wake of senior party leader Nitish Kumar's efforts to cobble a non-BJP, non-RJD Government in the state placed under Central Rule last month following a fractured verdict.

At the party's recent brain-storming session at Rajgir in Bihar, where it reviewed the assembly poll outcome, the JD (U) resolved to make earnest efforts for formation of a non-RJD Government in Bihar.

After the meeting authorised Kumar, its chief ministerial candidate, to hold negotiations with parties which fought the assembly elections on an anti-RJD plank, the JD (U) leader sent letters to LJP, CPI-ML, CPI, SP, NCP and BSP seeking the support of their 48 MLAs and also approached 17 independent MLAs to help form the Government.

Since JD(U) alone has 55 MLAs, the total would come to 120, just two short of simple majority in a 243-member House.

But with LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan sticking to his posture that JD (U) should first come out of BJP-led NDA, Kumar's efforts appeared to have come a cropper.

At the Rajgir session, Kumar had unveiled a 16-point Common Minimum Programme (CMP) including the salient features of the election manifestoes of parties, which went to polls vowing to bring an end to the 15-year RJD "misrule". The attempt was to woo the support of the parties.

The CMP laid particular emphasis on toning up the law and order situation within three months, improving the condition of minorities, dalits, women and other weaker sections, besides giving fresh impetus to education, healthcare, agriculture, road, power and industry.

Addressing the conclave called to discuss the election outcome and chalk out a strategy to speed up the process of government formation, Kumar had said since the CMP was an elaborate document addressing law and order problem and development issues, all anti-RJD parties committed to progress of the state should have no hesitation in coming to a common platform.

Sources said though coming Sunday's meeting has been convened to discuss measures to strength the organisation in states going to polls next year, the Bihar deadlock is likely to figure prominently during the two-day meet.

Sources said the party executive has been called to discuss preparations to face assembly elections due next year in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

The meeting would also discuss organisational matters including holding elections and conducting membership drive.