Monday, February 28 2005 17:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The process of Government formation in Bihar today (Feb 28, 2005) appeared to have been deadlocked with Chief Minister Rabri Devi resigning and claiming to form a secular Government even as LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) leader Ramvilas Paswan, who holds key to power, wrote a letter to governor stating he would not be part of any exercise initiated by the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) or BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to form Government.

Severely mauled at the hustings, Rabri Devi, accompanied by RJD Chief Laloo Prasad, handed over her resignation to Governor Buta Singh who asked her to continue till alternative arrangements were made.

In her resignation letter, Rabri Devi said she was quitting because, RJD, which won just 75 seats in the 243-member Assembly, had failed to secure a majority.

Although the Laloo-Rabri duo claimed that the mandate was in favour of secular parties, which would eventually come together to prevent the 'communal' NDA from coming to power, Paswan, whose 28 MLAs hold key to Government formation, declared to maintain equi-distance from both the RJD and BJP.

''I have written a letter to the Governor stating that LJP will not be a part of any exercise for Government formation initiated either by RJD or the BJP'', he told reporters.

Paswan, however, indicated that his party was not averse to joining hands with the JDU (Janata Dal United) provided it parted ways with the BJP.

''Even the LJP national executive, which had before the polls resolved not to have any pact with the BJP and RJD, was not against an alliance with JDU which we, in fact, wanted provided it parted ways with BJP'', Paswan said replying to a query by reporters about whether any possibility existed of JDU coming together with LJP, Congress and Independents to achieve the objective of forming a non-RJD and non-BJP Government.