Thursday, February 17 2005 13:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Notwithstanding the differences among the Centre's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners who are contesting against one another in Bihar Assembly elections, Union Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal yesterday (Feb16, 2005) voiced confidence that a secular Government would be formed after the polls.

''The differences might be there, but secular parties will form the Government in Bihar after the polls,'' he told reporters when asked to comment on Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ramvilas Paswan's statement that he would prefer imposition of President's rule to giving or taking support of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) or National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Government formation as pollsters predicted a hung Assembly.

"I don't want to comment on what Paswan has said in his capacity as LJP president, but one thing is certain that a secular Government will be in place after the elections and Congress will have an effective control over it," he said.

However, in a reflection of the uncomfortable relations his party has with RJD, Jaiswal said, "We indeed are concerned about the pathetic law and order situation and we will tackle it in right earnest once we are voted to power."

Asked why the Congress extended support to the Rabri Devi Government despite its poor track record on law and order, he said, "We did it only to prevent the communal forces from coming to power. I am sure the electorate will understand our compulsions as much as it understands our role in crushing the communal forces."

"We understand that the Bihar Government could have done much more to improve law and order and we often reminded it of its duty to check crime. Unfortunately the desired results could not be achieved."