Thursday, March 3 2005 14:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Notwithstanding the pressure from a section of his partymen, including some newly elected MLAs, to seek outside support from the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for Government formation in Bihar, LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) president Ramvilas Paswan today (Mar 3, 2005) stuck to his stand of neither lending nor taking support from either the BJP or RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

"I am firm in my stand on neither taking nor giving support to either the BJP or RJD in Government formation. I am against even taking outside support from BJP," Paswan told reporters after a three-hour meeting of party MLAs and office bearers.

Paswan said he was going to meet Governor Buta Singh to inform him about his decision.

The LJP leader said he would, however, continue his efforts for installation of a non-RJD and non-BJP Government.

A section of LJP MLAs and office bearers of the LJP mounted pressure on Paswan to seek outside support of the BJP as that was the only option to rid Bihar of RJD "misrule".

Though some MLAs privately admitted to have suggested Paswan to take outside support from the BJP, none of them, however, came on record.

National president of the minority cell of LJP Afzal Abbas told the media that he (Abbas) referred to RJD president Laloo Prasad taking outside support of the BJP to become Chief Minister for the first time in 1990.

"Even V P Singh received outside support from BJP to secure a majority in 1989," he said adding "this is the only option left to get rid of the RJD misrule".

Newly elected LJP Legislature party leader Ramashray Prasad Singh and State party president Narendra Singh were among those present at the meeting.