Tuesday, February 22 2005 09:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Exuding confidence that his party will win the Bihar Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD) president Laloo Prasad yesterday (Feb 21, 2005) said it will form a Government on its own.

''We are heading for a resounding victory,'' a confident Laloo told reporters at the end of campaigning for the third and final phase of polling in 93 constituencies scheduled for February 23.

Asked if the future Government will include the Congress as in the past, he parried a direct reply saying ''I have told you that we will form a Government on our own.''

However, in a reflection of his growing distance with the Congress, he said, ''If at all Congress wins from a few places, it will support us. It will not go with the communal forces.''

RJD's victory at the hustings will further strengthen the Centre's United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, he said adding, ''We will work in tandem to usher in a new era of peace and development in Bihar.''

The RJD president said that the new Government would crack down on criminals belonging to Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and some other parties. ''These criminals who enjoy political patronage have brought a bad name to Bihar and have hindered development.''