Lalu not to seek Paswan's removal from UPA
Lalu Prasad on Monday said developments in Bihar will have no impact on the UPA government.
As mutual accusations were traded on who was responsible for President's Rule in Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Monday said developments in his state would have no impact on the UPA government and that he would not seek Ram Vilas Paswan's removal from the central coalition.
Disfavouring fresh elections, he said "I hold Paswan responsible (for pushing the state towards President's rule)".
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Berhampore in West Bengal that Prasad had contacted him and urged for fresh elections in Bihar, which he said were not possible.
On a hectic day he met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and CPI(M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet.
Asked if the current political developments in Bihar would have any adverse impact on the UPA dispensation at the Centre, Prasad said there was no threat to its stability. "I am sure this development will not cause any embarrassment to the UPA government which will remain strong and intact," he said.
On whether he would seek Paswan's ouster from the UPA, the Railway Minister retorted, "why should I demand it. It is better if Paswan goes back to the NDA". Earlier in the day in Patna he said, "I am not a narrow-minded politician."
To a question whether he would request Congress President Sonia Gandhi to ask Paswan to help in the formation of a secular Government in Bihar, Prasad said, "She can only make Paswan see reason and cannot force him."
Lalu said the assembly elections were held to form a government and not for the sake of imposition of President's Rule as was being propagated by Paswan even during campaign.
"We claimed support of 92 MLAs and floor test would have been best to show strength," he said and criticised Paswan, who has only 29 MLAs for opposing RJD, the single largest party, in government formation.
Prasad said if there was any better choice, he was even prepared to sit in the opposition. "But the target (of Paswan) was not to allow Lalu to be in power," he said.
He also said that his party suffered because of some "old think tanks" in the Congress and added that he would apprise Sonia about it.
