Friday, March 4 2005 15:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu today (Mar 4, 2005) emphatically said that a secular Government should be installed in Bihar, but refused to comment on the Governor's role in Jharkhand.

Resenting the stalemate in Government formation in Bihar, Basu told reporters in Kolkata that the State would require secular governance ending "days of tug-of-war".

He, however, wondered at the stand taken by the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan by distancing himself from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Government formation.

''I don't understand what Paswan is doing. I use to believe he was intelligent,'' Basu added.

Asked about the Jharkhand Governor's controversial decision in installing Shibu Soren as Chief Minister, Basu said, ''the Governor's matter is now being looked after by the President, I should not comment on the issue at this moment''.

However, he hastened to add that whatever decision was taken, it should be on the floor of the House. Otherwise, President's rule would be imposed in Jharkhand, the former West bengal Chief Minister said.