Thursday, February 17 2005 12:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday (Feb 16, 2005) criticised Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ramvilas Paswan for his statement favouring imposition of President's rule in Bihar in the event of a hung Assembly saying it reflected his "frustration".

"Paswan's statement is a reflection of his frustration as he has realised that the LJP is not going to achieve any major success in the polls," BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told a press conference.

Reacting to Paswan's announcement that he would neither give nor take support from either Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) or the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the event of a fractured mandate and would instead prefer central rule for two years, Jaitley said, "In a democracy elections are held for formation of popularly elected Governments and not for imposition of central rule."

"The Congress by fielding its candidates in a large number of constituencies has done its bit to ensure that there is a hung Assembly in the event of which it is in a position to support RJD in Government formation," the BJP leader said, adding, "In the present situation, the Congress will not be able to cross the single digit mark and thus will have no major role to play in Government making."

Claiming that there was an "all pervasive anger" against the RJD Government, Jaitley said, "In such situations the voters give a clear mandate and not a fractured verdict."

The opposition NDA which, he said, had launched a concerted effort to unseat the Rabri Devi Ministry, will be in a position to form its Government after the polls.