New Delhi: Racing against time ahead of tomorrow's (May 22, 2004) swearing in of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, Congress today (May 21, 2004) stepped up efforts for Government formation by holding talks with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) but faced a roadblock with key allies Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) remaining non-committal on joining the Government.

RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav, "hurt" by reports that he was hankering for Deputy Prime Ministership and Home portfolio, held parleys with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and mounting pressure on Congress they declared that they would move jointly on their participation in the Government.

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Emerging from an hour-long meeting at Pawar's residence both leaders said they would be having discussions with Congress leaders later in the day.

The two leaders, however, made it clear that their support was there for the Congress-led coalition with Yadav saying it would complete its full term. Both RJD and NCP have a combined strength of 30 in the Lok Sabha.

Asked if any discussion had taken place with the Congress on Government formation, the RJD leader said, "There has been neither any proposal nor have they (Congress) approached me for talks."

He asserted that his was the second largest party in the coalition and "I am not a beggar."

Pawar dismissed as baseless reports that Yadav was angling for any key ministry and said what the RJD chief wanted was a package for Bihar which has faced severe difficulties following the division of the State.